The Rímur of the Völsungs
A six-ríma Old Icelandic cycle retelling the opening chapters of Völsunga saga — the dynastic history of the Völsung line from its origins in Óðinn's court through the burning of Sigeir's hall. The cycle begins with the mythological prologue drawn from Snorra Edda: Óðinn's migration from Troy, Gefjon's plowing of Sjælland, the founding of Sigtuna. It then traces the line through Sigi (who murders a thrall and is outlawed), Rerir (who avenges his father and prays for an heir), and Völsung himself — born by caesarean section from a dying mother. The central tragedy follows: Völsung falls in Sigeir's ambush, his sons are devoured by a wolf in the forest one by one, until only Sigmundr survives by tearing out the wolf's tongue. Sigmundr and his nephew-son Sinfjötli eventually burn the hall with Sigeir inside. Signý, revealed as Sinfjötli's true mother, chooses to die in the flames with her husband.
The sole surviving manuscript is AM 604 g (4°), the same codex that preserves Þrænlur, Þrymlur, and Lokrur. The author names himself "Vitulus vates" — Kálfr skald — probably identifiable with the Kálfr who composed Katrínardrapa. The poem draws primarily on oral saga tradition (not written text, per the editor Finnur Jónsson); the first ríma's mythological opening follows Snorra Edda's Prologue and Gylfaginning closely. The cycle covers Völsunga saga chapters 1–8.
First known English translation of this rímur cycle.
Ríma I
Mansöngr. Praise of Óðinn: his attributes, Ásgarðr, the laws he set, the royal lineages of Denmark, Uppsala, and Hálogaland. The mythological prologue: Óðinn's migration, Gefjon and the plowing of Sjælland, Lake Mälaren. The Völsung dynasty begins: Sigi, the murdered thrall Bredi, and the accusation of Skaði.
1.
I shall blend for the new-born joy —
who asks for it the first time —
the stream of Són and Suptúgr's mead
together with the memory of the gods.
2.
Óðinn I knew as Borr's heir,
ruling Asia's realm;
always he wielded the stream of battle,
the slain received gold for their feast.
3.
The lord is both fair and handsome,
wonderfully keen in all things;
his words smooth and especially gentle,
gold from a generous hand.
4.
The wise one reckoned himself swift and easy,
it was done as spoken;
besides this he was strong and crafty,
no one always stood in his track.
5.
Glass-bright branches and noble craft,
he never spared treasure;
many virtues has that adorned king
who is known through all the worlds.
6.
Óðinn sold his eye
at the other ring-well of runes;
by that his wisdom grew
and he drank from Mimir's well.
7.
The lord knew every craft,
all things turned to wisdom for him;
the prince missed no learning,
generous with the gift of gifts.
8.
Ásgarðr was the name of the splendid citadel
that Óðinn owned to govern;
it shines wholly in the great forecourt
and in the precious fire of treasure.
9.
That is the fair lord's dwelling,
covered over with silver;
its whole interior was likewise,
equal to gold to look upon.
10.
The poem wishes to illuminate the great city
for the people;
now that it has come into my learning,
may you be able to take meaning from such things.
11.
The doors were always hard for the hart —
five hundred and forty —
such things our Trojan kinsmen made,
our reliable forefathers.
12.
I did not know in the world before
a greater hall;
eight hundred all together
passed through one door at once.
13.
In Óðinn's hall it was never crowded,
every kind of company was there;
for the folk there was plenty of room,
all received seats.
14.
The Skjöldung's hall was arranged
between the greater halls;
the lord's household was large as a troll,
one stronger than all the others.
15.
The lord was both strong and great,
skill he bore above all;
the mightiest was Ása-Þórr
among Óðinn's bold companions.
16.
Óðinn established laws in the land,
how people should conduct themselves;
the wise one was strict in that
if anyone wished to break them.
17.
The lord appointed twelve men
to judge in difficult matters;
they walked on heaven's hall-floor,
on the hard bench of judgment.
18.
The lord laid down ancient prophecies,
the history of all ages he knew;
there came with that peace and good fortune,
most believed him capable of all.
19.
The lord ever trusted the host of Tyrkjar —
I count that a trick for many —
gifts of plenty and gold enough
Óðinn gave to them.
20.
Many trusted always in Freyr's magic
and the craft of spells;
each one who died in battle
hoped to lodge in Valhöll.
21.
Let it be made clear to me:
when people were in need
they asked Óðinn to save them —
both from life and from death.
22.
Both Europa and Asia
Óðinn ruled;
in thirds were these two realms'
precious host of men.
23.
The fame of it grew great;
men believed in both
Óðinn the king and Ása-Þórr
to rule over all the world.
24.
This lord saw from his prophecy,
which comes from Völsi's spirit,
that all his power would be brought down
and the way of Jesus would stand.
25.
Óðinn lived with all craft,
plenty of gold and fine things;
the lord wished to flee from Christ
and flew northward into the worlds.
26.
Over Ásgarðr he set Vili and Vé,
the wise one, his brothers;
I have heard the Skjöldung lacked no treasure —
I may tell that to the warriors.
27.
The lord first held court in Garðar to the east,
then yearned toward Saxony;
the reliable king let his kindred flourish
lovingly there.
28.
I will name then Njörðr and Freyr,
of noble birth were they;
the lord meanwhile sat on Óðinn's island
while he sent his handmaid ahead.
29.
He was called Gylfi the lord,
who knew many charms;
the noble king ruled Sweden
and gladdened his household.
30.
Gefión is her name, the ring-lady;
she was of Asia's lineage;
the Skjöldung offered her his entertainment
with tales and jesting.
31.
Plowland he gave as a prize for the story —
may our halls take note of that —
four of the lord's oxen pulled it
both day and night.
32.
The wise woman had always magic enough,
worked with such devices;
her sons she had yoked before the plow
in the shape of oxen.
33.
The land that Gefión gave
to Gylfi as the poem's reward,
the oxen pulled out into the sea;
the ruler came to the realm.
34.
They severed all that land,
and Lögrin [Lake Mälaren] lay behind;
truly will the outline of Sjælland
always be seen among the Swedes.
35.
I see this above all at the meeting of waters:
that the sons of magic Freyr
set this green ground
opposite Óðinn's island.
36.
Gefión rules the ground forever,
and set many to work;
she afterwards owned Baldr,
Óðinn's true heir.
37.
It lies in Lögrin thus —
I wish to tell the people —
there the wise may look and see Sjælland,
those who know where to find it.
38.
The ruler of Swedish men sees clearly
in his own condition
that he has much less standing
in the mass of arts than the Aesir.
39.
Óðinn sought out the prince entirely
with all his men;
both lands and burning gold
he offered him with splendor.
40.
Óðinn spoke thus with wise words:
"This shall not be denied";
the lord at once established his hall
in the place called Sigtunir.
41.
For the most part this fair citadel
is as it was before described among the Trojans;
the king arranged farms and markets
for his strong warriors.
42.
Such legal codes and the land's law
the lord ordains entirely,
as Óðinn established and as was known before
to Ásgarðr's bold folk.
43.
On the pyre the company of the dead
must all be burned abundantly,
with bright rings aplenty,
both women and men.
44.
Slain men who were worthy
should stay in Valhöll;
but those who died of sickness
would go toward Hel's dwelling.
45.
Such was the lord with gold and riches —
he gave with both hands —
to his warriors: shield and gate,
coverings of helm and brand.
46.
Frigg was called the lord's wife,
Fjörgunnr's fair daughter;
men attributed to the fallen throne
almost all the noble arts.
47.
Such was Óðinn, the far-traveled lord —
his equal was hard to find —
many sons the noble lord got,
hard to name by the lady's name.
48.
I shall name the Niflungr's son Skjöld,
eager in the balance of battle;
the Skjöldungar over the Danish age
came famous from him.
49.
Yngvi I name as Óðinn's descendant,
never yielding in battle;
his descendants are the splendid company
of the famous kings of Uppsala.
50.
Seming I know as the noble son's heir —
from this ruler's line grew
the family of the Hálogaland earls.
51.
Sigi was named, the king's son;
he was fair to see,
his brow bright and his eyes beautiful,
he bore a white and open face.
52.
The lord's son was tall and broad,
he was strong in power;
to men he seemed remarkable
and generous from the giving hand.
53.
Now Njörðr's wife decided to hold
a noble feast;
Skaði was called that lady,
to pour the bright wine.
54.
The lord had a certain thrall,
I wish to tell the people;
Bredi was he called, who won honor
and hunted many game animals.
55.
I shall name his hound
proven in many qualities;
I have made this quite clear for you —
he grimly destroyed wolves.
56.
Sigi was with his father;
I will tell what came of it:
he was asked to go out in the fair weather
with Bredi on the hunting journey.
57.
Bredi had killed one bear —
the bright sun shone on the heath —
the lord's son was rather slow,
he caught no game.
58.
Heavy lay the anger of the lord's son
as a burden of bitter rage;
the warrior kept peace poorly,
he slew the thrall and murdered him.
59.
Bredi he dragged into the broad snowfield,
then killed Reki too;
the lord's son tested his strength —
the angry one thus broke open his fate.
60.
Sigi came back late in the evening
and sat down to drink;
Skaði was sharp in speech,
she spoke from deep anger.
61.
"Where is Bredi?" said the ring-lady;
the warrior answered thus:
"Your thrall would not serve —
to my harm.
62.
He drowned in a thin snowdrift —
I say I know nothing more —
otherwise I believe some troublesome troll
has taken his life."
63.
"Your words are not true,"
so the fierce one answered;
"Bredi you must have killed in the snowfield —
both are dead, he and Reki."
64.
My poem shall not be laid down;
I close the memory of the gods;
I count it as the mischief of reckless youth —
I pray for my poem to find its end.
Ríma II
Sigi outlawed, Óðinn guides him to victory. His son Rerir avenges his death and woos Ingegerd of Sweden. Rerir and his wife cannot conceive; they pray; Óðinn sends the wish-maiden Hliod with an apple. The queen is pregnant three years, cannot give birth; she is cut open and dies. Völsung is born.
1.
Let the thick Frisian fog be blended
with the stream of Þráinn's valor;
Sigmundr's line drink their draft
as I teach another story.
2.
Men were sent out to search
for the hunter's body across the land;
they found his carcass
in the great snowdrift.
3.
Men found in that trap
the fool robbed of life;
each one ran home
and told his wife.
4.
Men counted this work as plain —
the fierce one liked it not —
Bredi's wide embrace was proven,
and likewise Reki's.
5.
Sigi was then judged to outlawry,
and so ended that strife;
outlawed and driven from those lands,
he never saw his home again.
6.
Óðinn set his son on a ship
once clear of land;
the lord roused the wound-wine of warriors
and forged power with the brand.
7.
Sigi won both honor and deed —
I may tell men that —
by one road he got power
and led a bold troop.
8.
The lord's two heirs ruled
the great realm of Garðaríki;
a wise sister of theirs —
no equal of hers was found.
9.
Sigi came there with his host
to seek the sister of those princes;
the Niflungr's heirs raised their shields —
now a third line grows.
10.
Sigi won there honor and deed,
victory in the middle contest;
the lord claimed the bridal grace
so that her brothers consented.
11.
The king's heirs swore truce;
nowhere could they harm Sigi;
a coward takes that name
if any break this oath.
12.
They settled all the maiden's affairs;
the lord's heir kept order;
Sigi brought home the necklace-Hrönn,
adorned with honor and skill.
13.
Sigi raided every summer
and sat at home each autumn;
it has grown hard for men,
gold was the brave lord.
14.
Rerir I shall name, the king's kin —
proven in fame and skill —
he came to defend the king's ground,
trained in brand and shield.
15.
The lord's son's mother's brothers
gathered to overturn the old order;
his father, who ruled the realm,
they planned to take his life.
16.
It is the tale among men that summer:
the lord was betrayed in his trust;
he had proved himself before in the game of battle
in the hearts of warriors.
17.
Sigi fell there with his household —
so must the verse reckon —
they gave truce with treacherous tricks
and wished to break their oaths.
18.
Rerir was not present in battle
when the lord lost his life;
the king's son was summoned from war
to strip the men of life.
19.
Men were called to battle;
Rerir won much in deeds,
fully he avenged his father
and felled both those kings.
20.
Both kingdoms and the ruler's name
Rerir took all those winters;
hard was it to find another prince his equal —
destroyer of the seat of wolves.
21.
The lord won such great fame
that I am slow to tell it;
I shall note that he sought
a noble match for himself.
22.
Yngvi was named, the strong lord,
who ruled the Swedish realm;
his bold men the proud lord
purged with flood-fire.
23.
The lord had a daughter for himself,
adorned with deeds and grace;
Ingegerd men called her —
the Hildr of gold.
24.
The flower-tree was pale and red,
she could do many crafts;
the great maiden was wise of tongue,
and won at the board-game.
25.
Rerir came there with his warriors —
the lord succeeded in meeting —
the prince asked the fair ring-Hlin
to buy a bride-price.
26.
"Choose first," said the lord then,
"but let her be yours, silk-queen;
within three days the ring-lord
shall hear the ting of spears."
27.
The battle turned to the lord's will;
Rerir cut greatly with his brand;
the storm of spears was especially fierce,
Yngvi was driven from the land.
28.
The prince set a burial mound for Yngvi
and a grave-gift for the men beside him;
the king gave him sword and ring —
so must the worthy be honored.
29.
The lord then drank his own wedding
and also Yngvi's funeral;
he spared nothing to the free folk —
the proud one's precious tokens.
30.
The king ruled both in Swedish lands
and over Garðaríki;
he was famous; for honor and deed
none like him could be found.
31.
This king, as I have described,
and the ground of Frigg's tears,
got no heir
within many years.
32.
The noble proud one and Frigg's double
took to praying to Frigg;
Óðinn would give them an heir —
a bird asked that the grain be given.
33.
Óðinn heard the prince's prayer,
prepared to give more;
so that the fair lineage would not perish —
he will not deny this.
34.
Óðinn sent a green apple
that they should bite,
the kinsman and the fair wife;
the wise one would ensure it.
35.
He let Hliod fall then
into the king's knee —
a little apple;
the lord rejoiced and the fair bride was glad.
36.
The lord led her into a little house
to lay with the snow-Þrúðr;
they bit the apple eagerly enough,
the fire grew within the bride.
37.
So time passed for a long while
for the lady of silk garments;
it was told to me that the lord's woman
could not nurse the child.
38.
A levy went from the land then —
the lord prepared to depart;
the king parted from the lady —
fate would shape what followed.
39.
Byleist [= a giant?] came home to visit
the lord's brother's daughter,
after many swords had been used,
which the king won with skill.
40.
The lord spoke these words
that thanes keep in memory:
"Be greeted, ring-sword, at home,"
said the lord, the wise one.
41.
"Now the ring-ground is with child,"
said the breaker of Draupnir's sweat,
"I will name it to the people —
let it be called Völsung.
42.
This lord's son shall become
widely famous through his skill;
this tree of Óðinn's line
draws power from every root."
43.
The queen told the lord's passing
to the host in such fashion;
the lady was rather downcast than glad —
so went her words.
44.
So it was fully three winters,
as is hard to tell;
the bride lay thus with the burden,
she could not give birth to the child.
45.
The queen foresaw her own death
and told her men:
"My heir shall hold on to life
with our own counsel."
46.
Deep counsel was the fair queen's,
death sought out the woman;
the lady's belly was cut with a knife,
the king's son thus held onto life.
47.
The lord's son got so from his mother —
the precious one freed by the knife —
the woman died of her wound-pain,
so I have learned of the woman.
48.
The wise one's son received the name of Völsung,
he guarded the helm and realm;
no lord was equal to him,
nowhere was his like found.
49.
The boy was trimmed and the Skjöldung's hair combed —
that must come first —
it was fair as Frigg's tear,
the memory of the gods falls there.
Ríma III
Völsung's glory. His sons, including Sigmundr, and his daughter Signý. Sigeir of Gautland comes to court Signý. The wedding feast. Óðinn drives a sword into the hall-tree; Sigmundr alone can draw it. Sigeir offers to buy the sword; Sigmundr refuses. The guests depart; Sigeir invites Völsung to visit.
1.
The memory I wished to find of Bil
floating on the western boat-path;
I always raise the game of verse
if men are willing to ask for it.
2.
I will describe clearly how finely he was formed —
the thrower of the serpent's bench —
great was the cunning power of Óðinn,
it can deceive many.
3.
Völsung was so handsome and fair,
wise and sharp in speech,
especially cheerful and skilled in words,
gold from the hand of valor.
4.
Particularly was this lord strong and great;
he struck greatly with his brand;
the same fame, rich and notable —
he governed every land.
5.
The prince had thirteen
of the serpent's feasts to win;
wherever the king sailed on the keel's floor
the lord cleared the halls of rivals.
6.
This lord took great shore-raids,
no rule stood against him;
fire was kindled wherever the lord advanced —
he broke things thus for a long time.
7.
The Vikings bent the neck
around those lands;
the prince paid them death for life,
the blue men he let die.
8.
Völsung was so bold and keen,
his like was seldom found;
this warrior was every king's friend,
driving them away from realm.
9.
The lord had this work
thirteen winters in a row;
many a man died feigning when the lord turned
home from the spear-storm.
10.
He had won three nations
the lord's son with sword-edge;
Völsung's fame grew now
widely known through the world.
11.
Völsung's fame has become a word
westward through the world's settlements,
equally east and south —
these are no lies.
12.
Long he ruled that land —
the tester of the dragon's lair —
he saw no woman so fair
that he desired to have her.
13.
Óðinn sent Hliod to the lord
for his own bride;
a fairer woman could hardly be found —
this was splendid for him.
14.
The strong king got ten stalwart sons
and one daughter;
Sigmundr was called the fine youth,
who can redden spear-points.
15.
The lord's children are wise and fair —
that is widely known —
the maiden was so quick and keen,
she soon wove rich wisdom.
16.
I name a pair of the lord's children —
two before you the young —
Signý was named, the silk-horn,
she was wise in every tongue.
17.
All were noble, the king's children —
that is widely known —
the warm bread the raven and eagle tear
where the Völsungar strive.
18.
Great fame stood now beside those father and son,
when men were loud with drums;
Völsung's name went wide through the world
and those of the wise king's proud children.
19.
The Völsungar wished across the land
to test themselves in raiding;
they liked to redden the shield
— the tester of the dragon's lair.
20.
Völsung's host is joyous in spirit now —
every kind of splendor is there —
the thunder of arrows and bright speech
the prince offered the people.
21.
Völsung has in equal honor
the wise one met no equal;
his kinsmen took the name of highness —
that was unmeasured for a long time.
22.
Sigeir ruled the Gauts' ground —
mark this well in my verse —
the wise one held constantly to Völsung's meeting
with five hundred warriors.
23.
Men drank the free wine
in Völsung's splendid hall;
the lord made his proposal
plainly before the bold folk.
24.
"For this I have come here to you —
I wish to take a bride;
may the match be freely made —
this is my desire."
25.
The great and gift-worthy maiden
said she opposed the edge-sharpener;
the keen woman spoke firmly,
her mind set against this.
26.
The wedding day was quickly named
and bidden to many folk;
at Völsung's realm the feast was set,
prepared with all splendor.
27.
Now all the Niflungs of Gautland arrived
at the named time;
to each was given the hall's peace —
the thrower of the dragon's lake.
28.
When in the prince's hall
the roof was hung with golden shields,
and draped and twined with the grip of snow
and green silk hangings.
29.
One tree stood in the broad hall
that men called the stock-bolt;
precious was that gathering of men,
the host seldom sees the like.
30.
The apple-tree blossoms with apples
standing in this tree always;
the grove twists with leaves —
the like cannot be seen anywhere.
31.
Wise men drank wine and mead
and the bold host of men;
and there sat within, glad,
eighteen hundred men.
32.
A man walked into the lord's hall
and held a sword in its scabbard;
barefoot was that old man who came,
a cloak fastened at the knee.
33.
The guest wore a Gyska hat,
he greeted no one;
one-eyed was he — and that is certain —
he hailed not one warrior.
34.
Men thought him quick to secret shame —
that was not nothing —
the outsider had the ring-breaker
wearing a blue-speckled cloak.
35.
The Týr of rings drove the brand
up to the hilt into the tree;
"Good and true is the warrior's choice,"
said the man, the lame one.
36.
"The sword I give to the forest-man
who himself draws it from the tree";
after a short while
men looked for the man — he was nowhere.
37.
Each man after another — the day's warriors —
went reaching at the tree;
this sharp wound-layer
trembled with all the effort.
38.
For every man it was fast in place —
the thrower of Draupnir's sweat —
Sigmundr got the sword,
and said it should be called Gramr.
39.
Sigeir then asked to buy the sword;
Sigmundr would not yield it;
powerfully he set aside Sigeir's anger —
the lord had done enough of that.
40.
Now when evening had passed,
the Niflungs prepared to leave the feast;
Signý followed the king's ride home;
Sigeir pulled back at the bridle.
41.
"Völsung, I bid you, if you will,
grant a gift to the ring-less —
you shall receive a feast from me
at thirteen weeks' time."
42.
"I grant you," said the noble lord,
"your first request";
the Gauting king set sail,
and bade solemnly to the feast.
43.
The lord prepared with noble valor
and with Röskva, his heir.
I have filled well in my hall
the fair cup of the poem.
Ríma IV
Signý warns Völsung and his sons of Sigeir's ambush. They refuse to flee. The battle: Völsung slain, his sons captured. They are bound in stocks in the forest; the wolf comes by night and devours one brother after another. Signý coats Sigmundr's face with honey; he tears out the wolf's tongue with his teeth. She heals him in the forest.
1.
I pour the precious beer of Durnir's company
for the host the fourth time.
So Völsung went to the feast,
that men keep him in memory.
2.
He set out from land with three ships —
the shearer of the serpent's fins;
the lord thought himself quick in speech
to visit his son-in-law and daughter.
3.
Her father she met and fell before him;
from the woman went such words —
she begged the lord to turn away —
"and save your life."
4.
The woman spoke to her father and brothers:
"You will never overcome Sigeir;
let you go, if the lord rules it,
away from the clash of weapons.
5.
The Niflungr has gathered near to every land
a force close to every man
enough to redden shields" —
so spoke the swan.
6.
"Nothing of flight is laid before
us; but you would have us driven away;
lord, you have mixed too much
more to ornament than to fight."
7.
The lord answered his daughter:
"Death we shall not fear —
if I am betrayed by my son-in-law,
many shall pay for it.
8.
Have no fear, magnificent maiden,
of any inheritance-meeting;
have you not heard that we fear
neither spear-end nor arrow?
9.
A hundred times has this lord
proven battle under banners;
in Russia I was tamed to combat,
I tested myself among Saracens.
10.
One time comes the ending day of life
to all people in the end;
no king is reckoned famous
who fears his own death.
11.
Be gentle with your husband —
do not name her;
the lady would mourn my death
if you could avenge the lord's."
12.
"Hard is the choice, not fair,
from that wretched wise one,
who has robbed me of such a father
and my famous kinsmen."
13.
The lady parted from her lord
downcast and with swollen eyes;
in tears she flowed, as one may tell,
the precious double buckle.
14.
The lord spoke gently to his men:
"Nowhere shall we run;
though the lady-friend would rather
hold the men back at home.
15.
If men come into the clash of weapons" —
Völsung I heard say thus —
"gladly shall we go forward,
where the spear sings sharp."
16.
The Skjöldung went from the ships
a short way onto the green field,
before the lord saw the banner —
a vast host poured from the hall.
17.
The difference was plain in the mass of men;
these warriors met —
firmly the battle-pause was no long one,
and they tested sharp edges.
18.
Sigeir had a host of men —
that is hard to count —
but opposing him, his in-law
with three hundred men.
19.
Völsung pressed into the clash of weapons,
he let men fall;
the Skjöldung's heirs rushed forward —
little space between the blows.
20.
The lord made then the golden spear
search men's breasts;
twelve were counted to one
of the strong lord's men.
21.
Such was this old lord
grim in the sharp battle;
no one was so brave or so forward
as to wish to wait for the prince.
22.
The lord swung the bitter brand
on both hawk-coasts;
he cleft men's country [= body],
so sang in gilded shields.
23.
He gave warriors crushing blows —
he had them follow him —
his sons in the dew of spears;
deep became the wave of wounds.
24.
He cleared a wide path for them now,
they broke through every file;
many fell before the gold-Gautr —
the river of the dragon's reef.
25.
Father and sons went through
the whole battle-formation at once;
many fell before the gilded spear,
I have kept that in memory.
26.
The Niflungr came the ninth time
nearly to breaking through
the lord's battle-line, where the stout one stood —
strong shields splitting.
27.
The precious heirs of the lord struck greatly
with both their hands;
bonds were put on those brothers
both soon and lastly.
28.
The warriors were bound fast
on both their hands;
the boys were held with the stiff bast-cord,
stripped of gilded shields.
29.
So was Völsung's people entirely
slain until none lived;
the fair lady learned of this —
the falling of her father amid the host.
30.
A heavy grief bore the gold-Gná —
she went quietly to find him;
Signý spoke to the king then —
I may tell that well.
31.
"Prince, do not kill my brothers' band
so quickly,
but rather let the strong stocks
hold the lord's heirs."
32.
"Worse it is for a brave man,"
the wise one said thus,
"than to let life go quickly for the sword —
a brief flash of shame."
33.
"That is long since," said the lady, "to me —
truly men's talk —
one is content while one looks up still
at the eyes of the ring-Norn."
34.
The wise one let it happen thus
as the precious lady said;
the stocks were then set in place
to watch the lord's heirs.
35.
In the stocks they must — and the night was dark —
sit, the Niflungr's heirs;
the she-wolf came there, especially strong,
to visit the renowned warriors.
36.
The lord's son before his brothers' knees
she bit and began to devour;
she chewed him with pale teeth,
troll-like was that feeding.
37.
Long enough did the night seem
to the ring-Norn's serpent-foe;
early she sent the ring-buckle
to visit her brothers.
38.
The messenger came back quickly
and told the woman thus:
"Your companion is gone —
but the others hold to life.
39.
Your sons are so content —
the prince gladdened the men —
or they drink the precious wine,
none fears death."
40.
One alone remained, the lord's son,
who long bore fame above all;
the most southerly of the bold king's heirs
this one pressed on.
41.
Each night the king could mourn
for his sister's son;
Sigmundr was wise and keen —
Signý's last sorrow.
42.
Sigmundr finds the ring-strand
late in this evening;
she stroked the fat on the stock-bonds;
a hag would do the same.
43.
Honey she rubbed on tongue and teeth
and on gums and palate;
the gain was better from the lady's coming
than the lord might hope for.
44.
The she-wolf came as before —
madness has the troll-woman —
the trusted fatty tongue she got,
and the bonds bit through firmly.
45.
The tongue she laid, the troll-tricked woman,
the lord's inner lips;
with her teeth I have heard she seized it,
a strong wrestling was made.
46.
Into the stock she sent strong claws —
the stock sprang from the lord's feet;
from the tree-trunk she went, as we tell,
the tongue wholly with the roots.
47.
Screaming ran the she-wolf away
and behind her stayed the tongue;
early Sigmundr met the lady's side,
loose, the young man.
48.
She followed the lord into the earth-hollow,
the lady, and went to the forest;
she looked quickly to heal him
and found it under the roots.
49.
Thus she parted the serpent-wound
with the noble lord's son;
I, Vitulus, let the Western ship
of the hall fall in this wise.
Ríma V
Signý sends her sons by Sigeir to Sigmundr for testing; they fail. She takes a witch's form and sleeps with Sigmundr; the child Sinfjötli is born. Sinfjötli is sent to Sigmundr, who tests him with the serpent-bread; he passes. They go to Sigeir's hall. Sinfjötli's sword rings in the timbers. They are captured and thrown into a pit, with a great stone between them. Signý hides a sword in hay and sends it to them.
1.
I shall weave the fifth now —
Fjölnir's hope-burden —
the praise-word bound I hold now
if it should be found.
2.
That shall be told next:
of the Þrúðr of the snow-arm,
the lady has been terribly shaken
by her father's loss and grief.
3.
Sigeir counted himself crowned with victory —
I have heard Signý's sorrow;
the wise one thought and was not afraid:
all the Völsungar dead.
4.
Three sons the king now got
by his own lady;
he sent them all — the wise woman —
to Sigmundr, apart.
5.
He then took his sister's son
rotten from the bag to straighten out;
next he gets no bread from him,
if he will not knead.
6.
The Völsung's son always went to hunt
and visited home at evening;
the wise son of the prince
wished to sell bread for heat.
7.
"What have you gotten, kinsman of mine —
you found something strange early —
in the meal there was so great a maggot,
you could not crush it."
8.
The lord I heard then
full of enmity on the hall-floor;
the boy was then twelve winters
when the wise one deprived him of life.
9.
The swan allowed her brothers —
the sons — to rob Sigeir's heirs of life,
all of them, if Signý rules —
she was fierce in spirit always.
10.
He slew one when the year had passed,
Sigeir's second heir;
he could not get the bread broad,
he refused to do that work.
11.
The völva met the wise woman —
that was small luck —
she let her, for a short time,
exchange shapes with herself.
12.
Sigmundr met the wretched woman
and does not wish to name himself,
for she wished to lay life away,
so that she could avenge the lord.
13.
He did not recognize his own sister —
the gold-silk-cloth was stripped off —
he had sleep with the silk-Hlin
on a bed and a white blanket.
14.
A little while later the crafty woman
went secretly from her lord;
the snake-bridge-lady then took
her own face back from the other.
15.
Time passed, as I now sing,
in the sea of the linden-foam;
the gentle ring-woman nursed
the child in a fitting time.
16.
A son Signý bore —
Sinfjötli he shall be called;
he will redden the blue brand
in the king's red battle-blood.
17.
He has received three and three
of Fáfnir's death-measures;
and Sinfjötli's own share —
Völsung's daughter has suffered.
18.
She sewed his hands together —
both are full of grief —
the boy she gives up to the task,
flesh and skin together.
19.
The swan spoke to her own son;
Signý remembered the ravens:
"Easily will you not need, brother mine,
cowardice to repay."
20.
He said it did not sting the skin:
"So we two shall part now;
I cannot hinder your companion's
such will as hers."
21.
The linden-oak followed on a secret road
the clever son of hers;
"I send you," said the silk-side,
"to my wise brother."
22.
"Give your greeting to my mother's son —
I will not linger with this —
your sister has sent me to you,
to serve you yourself."
23.
Völsung's son bade as was his custom
to give Fáfnir's land-fruit:
"The boy shall now knead bread
while I seek embers and brand."
24.
The lord spoke when the meal was kneaded:
"Did you eat any of this?
Did you find nothing alive in it?
Can you not fear serpents?"
25.
"The first time with my finger
I found something creeping,
the awakening went away by itself" —
I heard the boy say this.
26.
"The maggot I marked in the middle,
I put the meal into the porridge-pot;
it seems to me," said the lord's child,
"no need to fear a slug.
27.
Completely have I baked the bread broad —
the prince may eat —
not at all need you, lord,
fear us from such things.
28.
Now must the lord remember:
his father's slaying by the prince —
here we should avenge the lord —
thirty-six of her kinsmen."
29.
So were the lord's words gentle then,
he smiled with white teeth:
"Truly you have, fine boy,
been shaken free of our folk."
30.
The men went late in the evening
to visit Sigeir's hall;
there the queen, downcast and cold,
shall sit within the lord.
31.
They got themselves a fair seat,
wished then to stay;
the bold man wished to make for this purpose
gold that the hall would hear.
32.
The ring-Týr struck a bite sharp,
the lord heard it:
"Here is an end to Völsung's welcome —
blood will be woken."
33.
The woman said wisdom's shortage
had become greatest in her now,
that the warriors would gnaw the bone
that you killed long since.
34.
The shoulder-tree shouldered it so sharply —
the ring-benders of the strong shields —
the lord heard and all the folk,
the queen added to the trouble.
35.
The lord's children played with gold
and sought the red ring;
they told the lord and ring-horn
that they saw men stripped of all.
36.
She brought the child to her brother,
the bride went from her trouble:
"Sigmundr, the children have told you —
you cut them both at once."
37.
"I will not kill more of your children" —
the lord answered cheerfully —
both then set themselves together,
Sinfjötli with the edge.
38.
Sinfjötli cast the sword-stem in the king's hall,
let it fly;
the lord felt the brow of the brand,
truly I will not lie.
39.
Sigeir let then his men
attack both of them;
the Völsungar were yet
swift with skill and deeds.
40.
The battle was so hard and long,
the shield-cutter rang in the shields;
the warriors were in the song of tips —
both become their hands.
41.
That I have heard was their skill,
which seems hardly believable —
they put to sleep with their own will
sixty killed men.
42.
When the night came on, the night was dark —
down into a pit so deep
they were then cast; the bed was grim
with tree-roots for walls.
43.
That I have heard: the great stone
stood between them;
on their own side each lay —
so the evil lord ordered.
44.
One armful of hay the lady got
and brought to her famous son;
with that she was able to give him a dear push
to come to full use.
45.
There shall the lake of Herjan's roaring
rest first at this time —
so may the bear of Durnir's dale
warriors keep in memory.
Ríma VI
Sigmundr and Sinfjötli in the pit; they cut through the stone with the sword Gramr. They gather firewood and burn Sigeir's hall. Signý reveals herself as Sinfjötli's true mother and chooses to die in the flames. Sigmundr returns to Hunland, marries Brynhildr, begets Hörðmundr and Helgi. Sinfjötli composes satire. Helgi takes up the shield.
1.
I have heard said of those men there
that they could barely rest;
the lord and the youth in the pit —
let me say what they spoke.
2.
"Here in the straw is fat meat,"
I heard the boy say,
"our blessed mother's sword has served us
just as well."
3.
"No need then," said the noble lord,
"to fear starvation or hunger;
equally can my good Gramr
cut stone and earth."
4.
They scraped at the red cave's wall,
I heard the lord was patient;
they cut with the bitter brand
the rock as equally as cloth.
5.
They dug then through rock and earth —
Gramr, I heard, bit very well —
until they came onto the fair field
and the lord could look about him.
6.
Men piled the lord's hall with wood,
dry and split;
they then kindled the faggots —
the cheerful kinsmen of Burri.
7.
The door-guards guarded the hall-doors;
the lord woke from sleep;
brightly burned the grim fire —
there is enough for this.
8.
"Who is the fire-lord here?" —
the wise one came to say:
"Völsung's youngest son alone
shall serve you the precious fire.
9.
Sigmundr now wishes himself here
to avenge his own sufferings;
you have before steered me
three times toward death.
10.
The Niflungr slew my noble father
and my many kinsmen;
your hall shall burn
— the lord inside and out."
11.
The lord spoke to his sister:
he said in such a fashion:
"I wish that your wish
may grant me what I ask.
12.
Will you go from the fire,
rich gifts from the hall —
you shall have neither sorrow nor grief,
you yourself shall rule all."
13.
"All joy I am stripped of now" —
the lady of the serpent-thunder said —
"unwilling I was married to the Niflungr,
now I am eager to die.
14.
To death has she steered me and thrown me,
great grief I have gotten;
fully well have I now bought most of it —
my father's murder and my kinsmen's."
15.
"Sinfjötli is your true father's son —
Sigmundr," said the gold-twig —
Völsung's daughter spoke to the warriors:
"we two must part."
16.
"My father I have lost in the storm of spears" —
the lord spoke from his heart —
"I bear your proud struggle,
I never thought it from a woman.
17.
This is much more worth it,"
said the wise lord,
"than to let it be known to men
that you burn here inside."
18.
The wise one chose the fair Hlin
toward what seemed more her right;
with the sword he cleft his mother,
I will not deny this.
19.
The fire leaped up onto the hall's roof
over the vigorous folk;
scorched and dried like root and twig —
he burned it all to ash.
20.
Both have left life there —
that is a likely thing to say —
Sigeir the king and the courtly wife
and the bold host of champions.
21.
The prince had done this work,
the tester of the serpent-flow,
earned enough of his father's inheritance,
and was eager to visit home.
22.
He drove away before the prince there
who had been formerly at Röng,
he killed there many lord's men —
I count that as nothing small.
23.
Völsung's son took the wise name
over wide Hunland;
he gave ravens and wolves their food
when the lord fought with the brand.
24.
Father and son through Francia's land
went widely on campaigns;
they always bore the blood-red shield —
breakers of the dragon's reef.
25.
The lord sought for himself a proud woman
and with her love's toil;
Brynhildr was called that ring-ground
whom the king went to take.
26.
Sons he got by his lady
— Sigmundr precious ones —
Hörðmundr bright as Helgi's new moon,
a herd for kings to name.
27.
Famous was Helgi — I tell it plainly —
wonderfully bold I count him.
Sinfjötli put the man toward
all the making of satire.
28.
Both this lord was strong and great,
greatly he struck with brands;
twelve winters was the marked king
when he took up governing shields.
Colophon
Völsungsrímur, by Kálfr skald (writing as "Vitulus vates"), probably early 15th century. A six-ríma cycle in the rímnaháttr meter, covering the opening chapters of Völsunga saga: the mythological prologue from Snorra Edda (Óðinn's migration from Troy, Gefjon's plowing of Sjælland), the founding of the Völsung dynasty through Sigi and Rerir, the birth of Völsung by caesarean section, Völsung's glory and Signý's betrothal to Sigeir of Gautland, the ambush and Völsung's death, the wolf-nights in the forest stocks, Sigmundr's survival and Sinfjötli's origin, and the final hall-burning in which Signý chooses to die. The cycle closes with a brief account of Sigmundr's later life, his marriage to Brynhildr, and the early youth of Helgi Hundingsbane.
The poem is notable for its opening treatment of the Snorra Edda mythological prologue — the Gefjon myth, Óðinn's setting of Sigtuna, and the Trojan-origin theory of the Aesir — and for the compressed intensity of the wolf-night sequence in Ríma IV. The author's signature "Vitulus vates" (= Kálfr skald in Latin/Icelandic hybrid) appears in the closing formula of Ríma IV (stanza 49). According to the editor Finnur Jónsson, the poem appears to draw on oral saga tradition rather than a written text; the subject matter corresponds to Völsunga saga chapters 1–8.
The sole surviving manuscript is AM 604 g (4°), the same codex that preserves Þrænlur, Þrymlur, and Lokrur. The cycle consists of six rímur of four-line stanzas (rímnaháttr), with the mansöngr invocations in the skaldic tradition at the head of each ríma.
Source text from Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer, vol. 1, ed. Finnur Jónsson (Copenhagen: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri, 1905–1912), pp. 311–347. Public domain. Primary manuscript: AM 604 g (4°). The editor's critical apparatus was consulted for readings. No existing English translation of this rímur cycle was consulted (none is known to exist).
Good Works Translation by the New Tianmu Anglican Church. Translated from Old/Middle Icelandic, 2026. First known English translation. Gospel register.
Translated by this lineage with Claude (NTAC), 2026.
Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
🌲
Source Text: Völsungsrímur I
Old Icelandic source text from Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer, vol. 1, ed. Finnur Jónsson (Copenhagen, 1905–1912), pp. 311–347. Manuscript: AM 604 g (4°). Critical apparatus omitted; readings follow the editor's main text. OCR text with some regularization.
1.
BLANDA skalec firi bornnen glaud,
er beida j fyrsta sinne,
Sonar foss ok Supptuogs miod
saman ok asa minne.
2.
Odin uissi eg arfa Bors
Asia uelldi rada,
jafnan nakti hann uigra fors,
val feck auron til brada.
3.
Gramr er bædi fagr ok fridr
ok fvrdv vftnn at anllu,
ordin sleU ok einkar blidr,
aur af greipar nliollv.
4.
Wisir reiknnazt uitI' ok hægr,
var pat giortt at ordi,
hier med uar hann sterkr ok slægr,
stod honum eingi æ sporde.
5.
Spectar grein ok spaleik prvdr,
sparde alIdri seima,
kyngin morg, su kongr er skryddr,
er kunn vm alIa heima.
6.
Odin sellde auga sitt
anat bauga rvnne;
med pui iokzt honum manuit tritt
ok Mimiz drack hann af brune.
7.
Hilmir kvnne hueria list,
honum uard alU at rade,
gramr hefr ongrar mentar mist,
miIldr af grettes lade.
8.
Asgardr het agæt borg,
er Oden atte at styra;
gloar hon oll med greipar torg
ok grædis eIId en dyra.
9.
Pat er en væna peingills boU
pokt uar silfri buita,
pui uar likuzt jnan oll
jafnt sem gull at lita.
10.
Boken uiII af borgar stærd
birta folke ricv;
nu er pat kom it j mina lllærd,
megi pier rada af sliku.
11.
Dyrnnar voru æ harda hiort
hundrat fhnm ok florer
tiger, hafa slikt Tyrkvir giortt
travstir frændr vorir.
12.
Wissa ec eigi j verolldv fyr
væri stærri halla,
jafnn fram gengv j einar dyr
aUa hundrvt kalla.
13.
I Odens hon yard alIdri humU,
allzkyns er par mæti,
flestum var par fyrdum rvmtt,
feingu aIlir sæti.
14.
Skatnna lide uar skioldnngs hoU
skipud j millvm gaUa;
stillis hirden stor sem troll,
styrkre uar einn en aUa.
15.
Gramr uar bædi sterkr ok stor,
slægd bar hann af ollvm;
oflgaztr uar Asapor
af Odens koppum sniollvm.
16.
Oden setti j landi log,
hue lydir skyldu hegda,
vandar um pat uisir miog,
ef uHI pvi nockur bregda.
17.
Doggling skipade dreingium tolf
at dæma um maIen uondu;
piliat nar hihnis hallar golf
hardri frænings strondu.
18.
Fylkir lagdi fornar spar,
forsogu uissi hann alIda,
fylgdi par med fridr ok aR,
flestir trvdv hann ualIda.
19.
Trvdi æ stillir Tyrkva droU,
tel ec pat margan pretta,
oska flold ok avra gnoU,
Odin gaf peim peUa.
20.
Margr trvde æ malma Freyr
millding galdra lista,
sier uænti, hver er af uopnum deyr
Val hoU mune peil' gista.
21.
Letrid giorir pat liost firi mier,
pa lydir woru j naudum
peir badu Odin biarga ser
bædi lifs ok daudum.
22.
Europa ok Asia heim
Odin aUi at styra,
j pridiungum var pessum tueim
pegnna sueiten dyra.
23.
Willan hefr sia uordit stor,
uirdar hugdu bada
OOdin kong ok Asapor
oll vm heime at rada.
24.
Sia lez gram ur af sine speet,
su er af fitOllS anda,
eydazt mundi oll hans mect,
en Jesu vegr mun standa.
25.
Odin bio med aUre list
aura gnoU ok beima,
fylkir viII svo fordazt Krist
ok flydi nordr j heima.
26.
Yfir Asgard seUe W ila ok We
uisir brædr sina,
skiolldung fra ec at skorti eigi fe,
skotnum ma ec pat tina.
27.
Gramr hellt fyrst j Garda austr,
girntizt padan til Saxa;
kærliga let pa kongren travstr
kynslod sina vaxa.
28.
Nefna mvn ec pa Niord ok Frey,
af nifllungs woru hen di;
gramr sat medan j Odens ey,
en ambaU sina sendi.
29.
Sa hefr heitit Gylfir gramr,
er galdra kunni fiol da,
Suidpiod styrde sikling framr,
sina gladdi hol da.
30.
Gefion heitir hringa Hlin.
hun uar Asia æUar,
skiolldung veiUi hon skemtan sin
at skroksogur urdu gtlUar.
31.
Plogland gaf firi skemtan skioU,
skilie pat pallar uorir,
drog u pat bædi dag ok noU
dogglings vgxar fiorir.
32.
Snoten hefr æ galdra j gnog
giorU med wælum slikum,
sonuna hefr sier firi plog
samit j ugxa likum.
33.
Landit slikt, er Gefion gaf
Gylfi at kvædis launvm,
ygxnen drogu ut j haf;
audling komzt at R3unvm.
34.
Leystu peil' upp landit allt,
Logt'inn var pa eptir,
sanliga munu med Suium æ vallt
synazt slikir gl'eptir.
35.
Se gi ec pat hellzt j Suiptungs fund
at synirnir galdra Freyiv,
peir seUu pessa grænv grvnd
gagn uartt' Odens eyiu.
36.
Gefion rædr grvndv vm aUdr
ok giorde marU at starfa,
suannen aUi sidan Balldr
sannan Odins arfa.
37.
Liggia uikr j Leginum suo,
lydvm uil ec pat inna,
par mega y tal' Sæland sia
suinnir peir er finna.
38.
Sier pat glogt æ sinum hag
suænskra manna ræsir,
at myklv hefI' hann minna lag
æ menta fiold enn æsir.
39.
Oden sokti audling heiln
med aIla sina dreingi,
bædi lond ok bI'endan seim
baud hann honum med meingi.
40.
Odin talar suo orden snioll:
"ecki skal pui neita";
pegar let stofna peingill hoU
par er Sigtunir heita.
41.
At flestu er pesse en fagra borg
sem fyr var skrifud med Tyrkum,
budlung skipade bæi ok torg
brognvm sinvm styrkvm.
42.
Logmal slikt ok landzens ReU
lofdung skipar med oIlv,
sem Oden setti ok adr var frett
Asgardz folki sniollv.
43.
A bale skylddi dauda droU
drivgunl brena aIla,
par med biartta bauga gnogt,
ok bædi konur ok karlla.
44.
Wisan skyld v vegnir menn
UaIholl eiga at gista,
en sædavdir segir senn
8ig til heliar uista.
45.
Suo uar gramr af gulli aur,
gaf til beggia handa,
skotnum sin vm skioIld ok dor
skyfir hiaIms ok branda.
46.
Frigg uar koIlut fylkirs kuon~
Fiorguns doUir uæna,
ytar telia falIda t'ron
al flestar listir kæna.
47.
War suo Oden uifen gramr,
uarlla feckzt -hans jafnne,
lllnrga sonv gat fylkir framr,
fru Illa merkia nafnne.
48.
NiflIvngs son skal nefna SkioIld,
uogu giarn til rornv,
doglingar yfir danskre olld
dyrir af honum kuomu.
49.
Inga nefni ec Odens nid,
alldri j soknDvm vægir,
ætt Rif hans er agæt lid
Upp sala kongar frægir.
50.
Semings get ee at savn nv vit
siklings arfa ens snialla,
jokzt nv af peim audlings nid
ætt Haleygia jarlla.
51.
Sigi I var nefndr siklings mogr,
sa uar uæn at lita,
ennit biartt enn avgun fogr,
asion ber hann huita.
52.
Hilmirsson nar har ok digr,
hann var sterkr at aflle,
monnum leizt hann merkiligr
ok milldr af greipar skafli.
53.
Nu red stofna Niardar kuann
nyflung ueizlu eina;
Skadi het su skikiu Rann,
at skeinkia uinit hreina.
54.
Pegnnin atte prælen pann,
piodum uil ee pat skyra,
Bredi het sa er med uirtvm uann
ok veiddi fiolda dyra.
55.
Refel skal nefna Raeka hans,
reyndr at kostum morgum,
gorpum fær. ee greint til sans,
grilllliga eyddi hann vorgum.
56.
Sigi uar med sinvm fedr,
segia mvn eg pat uerda,
bad hann at fylgia pvi blitt var vedr
Breda til veide ferda.
57.
Bredi feck unnit biornenn einn,
biorU skein sol j heidi,
hilmirsson uard helldr seinn,
hann hrepti ongua ueidi.
58.
Rikurn uar pa ræsis nid
reidi pungri byrdi,
daliga hellt pa dreingrin grid,
deyddi hann prælok myrdi.
59.
Breda dro hann j breidan skaft,
banadi sidan Racka,
Rftses nidr hefr reyntt sitt atlI,
reidan giorer pvi spracka.
60.
Sigi kOlD aptr sid vm kuelId
ok setizt pa til dryckiu;
nliog var Skade j mali snelId,
mælti af grimre pickiu.
61.
"Huar er hann Bredi", kuad bauga Hlin;
bragning red at ansa:
"ecki uilIdi prællinn pin
piona, mier til vansa.
62.
Kafnadr uar hann j krankre mioll,
kued ec eigi tleira skipta,
elligal' get ec at trvdig troll
tekit hafe life at suipta".
63.
"Orden pin eru eigi sonn",
ansar pannveg spracki,
"Breda muntv hafa banad j fonn,
bæ di er dautt ok Racke".
64.
Min skal ecki liodin 16gd,
lyk ec asa minne,
tel ec at reike bernsku brogd,
bid ec at odi linne.
Source Colophon
Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer, vol. 1, ed. Finnur Jónsson (Copenhagen: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri, 1905–1912), pp. 311–347. Public domain. Primary manuscript: AM 604 g (4°). Source text presented without the full critical apparatus (variant readings and manuscript corrections are in the Rímnasafn footnotes). OCR from Internet Archive; some characters regularised where scanning introduced errors. For Ríma I source text only; the full critical text for all six rímur is in the Rímnasafn volume.
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