Skaldhelgarimur — The Rimur of Skald-Helgi

The Rímur of Skáld-Helgi

A seven-part rímur cycle from the fourteenth or fifteenth century, telling the story of Skáld-Helgi — a poet of Borgarfjörður whose love for Katla, daughter of Halldor of Höll, is forbidden by her father. What begins as courtship becomes betrayal, exile, and feud, as families are broken by pride and the lovers are driven apart.

The poem survives principally in AM 604 f, 4° (the primary manuscript, designated A by Finnur Jónsson), with a copy in AM 606. Earlier copies exist in AM 603 (Bm) and Ny kgl. saml. 1133 (B). A fragment on a Stockholm membrane preserves portions of Rímur IV–VII. The rímur were previously printed in Grönlands historiske Mindesmærker II.

This is the first known English translation of this complete cycle. All seven rímur are presented here: the courtship and forbidden love, Helgi’s voyage and outlawry, his return from Rome, the haunted sea-voyage to Greenland and his second marriage at Hörnes, his illness and healing, the battle at Greipar, Katla’s return and their reunion, her death, and Helgi’s final settlement at Brattahlíð.

Ríma I

Mansöngur

1.
Once I held a spring of learning
and drew from it bright delight;
now it has sunk near to the ground,
its grace frozen with grief.

2.
It freezes sorrow's very coals —
so it must endure;
neither heat nor sun can thaw
this glacier of grief.

3.
I sang before with cheerful spirit,
free from every pain;
I bear now no moment so bright
that my heart could smile again.

The Courtship

4.
Lovely maidens draw fine words
from the mouths of young poets;
I will tell of a golden woman
a tale heavy with trial.

5.
Always have men loved deeply
the women of this world;
that age was not free from sorrow
which lived here long ago.

6.
Halldor, I heard, was the thane's name,
who dwelt here in this land;
in many things wise and upright —
though it scarcely served him.

7.
The gentle ring-bearer lived there,
that giver of gold;
he dwelt at the place called Höll
in the district of Borgarfjörður.

8.
The man was blessed with fair delight,
granted two daughters;
but fate laid its harshest hand
upon one of the two.

9.
Þorkatla was a fine woman by name,
and Þordís the other maiden;
one would trouble a man's whole life
and suffer long for it.

10.
Katla was the finest woman
ever to walk among noble folk,
fair and ruddy in her colour,
set in beauty's midst.

11.
Þórðr lived at the place called Hofdi,
Halldor's closest friend;
he made his home on that farmstead,
wedded to a worthy bride.

12.
Helgi, I heard, was his son,
in the middle of the district;
more promising than any
young farmer's son in those parts.

13.
Bold in spirit, dark of hair,
manly in all his deeds,
a man neither tall nor short,
but broad across the shoulders.

14.
Foremost among men he strode,
a wielder of helm and shield,
the best of men in any fight,
and a master poet in words.

15.
Halldor set a feast at home,
a fine company gathered;
I heard that Þórðr was bidden there,
both father and son together.

16.
Cheerfully they drank beside the farmer,
that giver of gold;
now Helgi might hear and see
both of Halldor's daughters.

17.
The women had come from the bath
when he chanced to look at Katla;
love's arrow flew at him
and bit deep into his heart.

18.
I heard the champion fondly
spoke to the jewelled woman;
she was both gentle and warm,
and smiled at all she met.

19.
Words of the heart the honoured maiden
laid before the brave man;
as eagerly as he, she wished
to turn toward this courtship.

20.
Each knew the other's will
as the feast wore on;
in time there settled upon them
a love both shared and bright.

21.
The road was not long
between their two homes;
Helgi took to walking to Höll
to visit the treasure's keeper.

22.
Soon it was said before the farmer
that he wished to court his daughter;
Halldor made it plain enough —
he told Helgi as much.

23.
The man answered well and quietly —
sorrow, I heard, did not dry up —
but for the sake of the dear woman
he came just as before.

24.
Said he who gave sorrow
to the man and the jewelled maiden:
"It would please me if you ceased
to tempt my daughter with words."

25.
"It is spoken now among many folk
throughout this wealthy district,
that you shame a noble woman;
I have proof of it often enough."

26.
"Men may judge that matter rightly
and rule their own words;
I myself," said the man,
"will see to my own affairs."

27.
"If you would shame the ring-maiden
and break my will thus,
I shall find some way
to put an end to your meetings."

28.
"Then against your words of anger
I will set this answer:
I will visit the ring-bearer always
and fear no man alive."

29.
The darling speaks to her father
from the truth of her heart's will:
"Far too much you trouble yourself
to keep me from Helgi."

30.
"You will think too much was said
for a man's sake," said the fair bride;
"the regret for this, gold-destroyer,
will yet come back to bite you."

31.
"Mighty jewelled one," he answers
the maiden dear,
"you shall be kept further from that man
the more you wish to be near him."

32.
The man made his decision then —
the tale was told —
the woman must go to dwell
west at Sauðafell.

33.
Sorrow and grief seized them both,
robbed of all joy's journey;
far too long for them
would this grief endure.

34.
Men asked the generous one
whether the kind-hearted man
would wish to wed the elder maiden
to the gold-destroyer.

35.
The thane said this prospect
would bring him no pleasure,
but only disgust and ill will
from all their scheming.

36.
From the south rode to Sauðafell
the warrior in battle-dress;
he spoke with the lady in finery,
and there passed gentle talk between them.

37.
To the fair woman he told all
of his kinsmen's will;
the bride grew cold in her breast —
the noble woman turned pale.

38.
"If you see love in our bond,
as all seem to perceive,
this is no wished-for counsel
that your kinsmen bring."

39.
"Know this: if my sister
is matched with Baldri,
then it is certain," said the fair lady,
"we two will never be together."

40.
"Go instead and ask for me at once,
and break their plans asunder;
we shall find another way
if this does not work."

41.
Then the man waited no more —
sorrow was driving him on;
Helgi rode at once to Höll
and raised his suit for the maiden.

42.
"I wish now to win the kirtle-maiden
with a rich bride-price,
to honour all my former words
and win the lady's hand."

43.
"It may seem fitting," the thane replied,
"that this suit is sought;
yet I do not know for certain
whether it shall be refused."

44.
"Wise men of old have said —
those who thought they knew all things —
that desire's counsel goes ill
when warriors love women."

45.
"Though we must bear fortune's curse,
harsh with cruelty and oath,
we will both," he said,
"have the most at stake."

46.
The young man gave so ill a thread
to the man of mighty virtue;
better had he lain in a coffin
than raised such words as these.

47.
"Thus with my strength shall I
break your desire asunder;
while I am whole, you shall
neither have nor enjoy her."

48.
For all the joy that broke apart,
that was shattered by fury,
Halldor's words fell worst on Helgi
and grew heavy in his breast.

49.
His father bade him try instead
to win the elder bride;
then the sorrow-swollen man
might forget the jewelled maiden.

50.
"It would hardly be well said
to court two brides;
I have already laid my love in words
before her sister."

51.
He gained no marriage-joy
who trusted in this game;
this was the kinsmen's full design —
they stole the bride from him.

52.
They tricked him with their cunning,
those who should have been called friends;
outwitted, the man now had to seek
another woman's hand.

53.
Then the betrothal went forward;
fair Katla hears of it.
The story turns south to Hvammr,
to the green silk tent.

54.
The champion, before the bargain was sealed,
turned with bitter words:
"I will fell them all if ill reward
falls upon your hands."

55.
Whatever the warrior and the golden one
had planned about this matter,
all these fates would fall
upon them both with sorrow.

56.
He goes to wed the elder bride —
such things we may call fate.
I will not stretch the trials further;
the curtain here must fall.

Ríma II

Mansöngur

1.
What need is there to bring grief's blow
into the changing of a meter;
though I compose in a new mode,
none will learn it any sooner.

2.
None stays so glad in their delight
that they can make their joy last long;
as soon as all things go against a man,
every pleasure turns cold.

The Parting and the Voyage

3.
Noble men aspire to great heights
in the world with fine rewards,
but the young wife of the world
follows Venus's counsel.

4.
Skáld-Helgi parted from his cloak-woman —
the one he had loved;
never after without dread
could he dwell beside Gunna.

5.
No longer than two winters
did he stay beside his bride,
for Þorkatla was his burden
and the man sought nobler ways.

6.
By Venus's will upon them both
he woke all the old sorrows;
he divided the goods and sent her home —
the cloak-woman back to Hóll.

7.
The man had freed himself
from his sweet guardian's bond;
he thought thus, bound in grief's cord,
to bail the pain out of himself.

8.
No treasure-woman ever
could bring him any joy's relief,
for his heart played always
upon one woman alone in all the world.

9.
A ship lay at Borgarfjörður,
fitted for sea upon the sand;
the man had fixed in his resolve
to take himself away from land.

10.
Men put the ship in Hvítá's channel,
laden in the good tide;
Helgi rode up to Hóll
to find the ring-woman.

11.
"I wish now to part from you, ring-woman,
and be away for a time,
to see whether bold words will hold:
pure love as our bond."

12.
"You will sail south across the sea,"
she answers the ring's bold one —
"I shall live with long grief
and lighten my sorrows never."

13.
He asks the fair ring-woman
to turn from grief's dark track;
"It must go as it must," the woman said,
and she fell into a swoon.

14.
Grief bit Helgi deeper
than any fool could reckon,
when he tore himself from the thorn-ground —
a man who loved his life.

15.
Helgi came to Hvítá's banks
and leapt into the ship with his men;
at once she was led through the salmon-falls,
light on her taut lines.

16.
He stood up on the prow then,
shutting out joy's road,
gazing until the ship's head
left the southern farmsteads behind.

17.
Some gold-man sees this
and speaks about the matter:
"Still, Helgi, you are very pale —
as though fate will always fall on you."

18.
"Perilous it is for those in grief
to break away from burning love;
blessed is he whom fortune chooses
and for whom all things go as he wills."

19.
Then they ran south past the shore,
south across the sea;
the men reached Hálogaland
and found the best harbour.

20.
Earl Eiríkr with his fine company
held Norway in his power;
merchants came north to Niðaróss
to the worthy prince's meeting.

21.
The goods were carried up to the town,
the crew made the ship empty;
Skáld-Helgi went before the lord
and greeted the earl with honour.

22.
"Your speech is great and keen,"
said the sword-wielder,
"yet the warrior will not in all things
prove mightier than fate."

In the Court of Earl Eiríkr

23.
Helgi answered the prince then,
nursing long griefs:
"I would wish for a better fate,
if it were willing to follow."

24.
"I see this before me," said the joyful prince,
"so it shall come to pass;
you will prove a man of endurance, Helgi,
famed widely across the world."

25.
The warrior counted himself equal to champions
from such bold words;
there Helgi received a retainer's name
and honour from the mighty earl.

26.
The earl kept the Yule season
with the finest festivity;
the hall was honoured in peace
with every kind of drink and song.

27.
The earl spoke to the men, cheerful,
and made himself bold:
"There is one man here inside
whom I never see glad."

28.
"That is you, Helgi, our retainer,
held with the mind's strong bond —
great grief torments your heart;
what is your trouble, warrior?"

29.
"I have laid my love upon a young maiden
deep in my heart;
the ring-island was denied me;
I carry this wound of sorrow."

30.
"Compose of your virtue together
some work of skill and wisdom";
the warrior bade him forget grief
and gave him scarlet clothing.

31.
There he served the generous earl
through the cold winter passing;
no joy delighted the warrior,
little came to give him comfort.

32.
Men set their lines on the herring-banks,
sea-creatures on their strings;
the warrior wants above all else
to get aboard ship with his men.

33.
Fully fitted lay out there
the Iceland vessel waiting for wind;
the earl gave his farewell, and leave was asked
by the gold-waster.

34.
"It honours you, if you find it so,
to remain in my kingdom;
yet it cannot," the earl said,
"undo the release of your fate."

35.
He exchanged with him the finest gifts,
warm was it between them,
a cloak and a shining ring;
the poet thanked the prince.

36.
He received his gifts of honour
and sailed across the raven's plain;
the men reached Borgarfjörður,
the ship came into harbour.

Katla's Gifts and Their Farewell Vow

37.
Katla hears that the warrior is come home,
adorned in steel;
at once the woman, full of longing,
sought Helgi out to speak with him.

38.
The gold-woman rode to the ship,
not lacking courage;
the wise man and the gentle swan
sat down to talk with warmth.

39.
The poet gave her a bright cloak
and a very fair gown;
never had the wise woman
received any gifts like these.

40.
"You have given me gifts so rich,"
the woman said, thinking on it —
"I believe truly that nowhere
in this land is their like to be found."

41.
"The garments I give the warrior
have no match in beauty;
this is a cloak of fine weaving —
I want you to have it for long."

42.
Katla spoke warmly with him,
knowing how to seek counsel:
"We have come to a misery
that may rightly be called wretched —

43.
my kinsmen's band has wished
to part me from all joy,
and so our pleasure must be divided
by their counsel.

44.
It befits you," said the thread-woman,
"to settle the ugly matter,
above all because from this day forward
neither of us may enjoy the other."

45.
"Now it is proved," the warrior said,
"the bond of honour from me —
love will never
leave my breast on your account.

46.
Therefore shall no man on earth
rule over our meetings,
though we have won this grief
that looks little toward mercy.

47.
For on both sides it is pressed in —
poured with painful spray —
fallen over those grief-vessels
that have long been filled with sorrow."

48.
Both arms the bright bride
spread around the white neck;
the maiden answered the gentle warrior:
"I shall rarely see you."

49.
The gold-woman rode from the ship,
beloved by the poet beyond measure;
it all went as before,
and he found her always sweet.

50.
Many a man laid malicious words
against their meetings;
he urged the young treasure-woman
all the more to keep on meeting.

The Outlawry

51.
So their grief-meetings grew dangerous
for these two honoured people;
all wished to drive apart
the love they bore each other.

52.
His woman he placed, I heard,
with a certain farmer;
men say the man was called Arngeir
and kept his farm at Steinar.

53.
The farmer had led the woman astray
and dishonoured the silk-Nanna,
speaking much ill of Helgi
with true malice behind it.

54.
Then the true news came
to sting the man to the quick;
it seemed shameful to part without action
from the man of the battle-cloak.

55.
The wise hero rode from home
and found the farmstead at Steinar;
outside, I heard, Arngeir stood,
and matters came to a head.

56.
"You have wronged the woman there —
I bade you before to keep her well;
now men may hear and see
how you intend to make amends."

57.
"I owe her no costly reckoning,"
the man answered to this —
"though you go as the news goes,
raving at every corner."

58.
"Men have always blamed you for this,"
said the sword-shaker,
"that you call Katla and me to account
for the love of our dealings."

59.
"Many have said much of this —
it will not lessen;
never is it so badly set
that it cannot be worse."

60.
"It befits me not to say otherwise,"
answered the pure warrior,
"yet I would give your friend relief
from your wicked tongue's harm."

61.
The poet drew his cloak aside then
and swung the shining sword;
stripped of breath, Arngeir fell —
the head, I heard, was taken clean off.

62.
The hall-man opened the door
and witnessed the farmer's killing;
words do not cease their falling
before another man goes down.

63.
This stands in the fame of Hallsteinn,
bold helmsman of the ring,
that for the cry of grief's injury
Helgi slew four.

64.
Each man who fell in this way
fell to the clean sword;
he offered neither atonement nor payment
and made good to none.

65.
Bitter was their grief-meeting —
he who has known joy knows best.
Here the meter must break apart;
I ask no one to master it.

Ríma III

Mansöngur

1.
Little am I moved to compose —
grief plays about my heart's town
both night and day,
and sorrow's cloud never clears.

2.
Many a man versifies
who has never had a woman as his friend;
he knows no grief at all,
whether women hate him or love him.

3.
If someone knew joy's fullness —
I call this the greatest wonder —
the people's band still finds sorrow:
each one strikes before the other.

4.
I believe truly that no hand of fate
can break those bonds
that have been knotted so with sorrows,
victorious over both old and new.

5.
It seems right to me, the linen-woman,
to compose something of glory's friend;
no scarlet garment gladdened the woman —
I shall therefore not cling to it.

The Aftermath of the Killings

6.
The ríma I must raise up
rises with sorrow's telling,
bound together by bitter mood
of bride and warrior in thought's track.

7.
Just before it was written in entertainment so —
the poet, I heard, weighed in the scales
those who had cried out against them —
Helgi and Katla both.

8.
After that iron-killing
the big words began to shrink —
they mocked him with their scorn,
though he often found his worthy man.

9.
Every hour he found her near him;
he spoke with the fine needle-woman —
now there was never any lack.

10.
If he could find any fine thing to buy,
Helgi bought it as soon as he could;
both gold and refined metal
he brought to her with both hands.

Hermund's Peace and the Second Voyage

11.
Hermund held the district's homestead,
the hero governed that chieftaincy —
he ruled Illugi the Black's inheritance;
the warrior's brother was Orm-Tongue.

12.
It fell out very ill
with the kinsmen of those the poet slew,
that each one dropped to the ground —
Helgi made payment to none.

13.
They quarrelled with force then;
the kinsmen of Arngeir came before Hermund
over the killing-case;
the powerful farmers drove all of it.

14.
The matter came to the assembly for judgment,
the men made a harsh noise;
none was there who would defend it —
the case seemed bad to men of honour.

15.
Helgi is made outlaw for the killings,
the harsh judgment attests this —
both property and life forfeit;
man and woman shall hear of it.

16.
The warrior rode west to Katla —
their meeting was the greatest of love;
he told her of his outlawry;
he wept and spoke with wisdom.

17.
"This is my one most painful care —
if it is to go this way through life —
that you should lie in danger of Hel
here in the land and mend nothing.

18.
It will come like rain on the fog,"
the iron-woman speaks, heavy with sorrow —
"our grace is gone;
those grief-counsels go badly.

19.
Warrior, you must act boldly —
come to the ship at the northern Gásir,
escape their outlawry's judgment;
go now while the time is best."

20.
"Then I shall never see the treasure-ground
I always wished to be beside."
"Whatever fortune grants or takes,
each one owes it to life to preserve it.

21.
So has love conquered me —
I grieve for no man but you,
whether you are gone or alive."
Long he remembered the woman's words.

22.
The man parted from the gracious swan —
no one without virtue tells
how their hearts and breasts
trembled from the painful sting.

23.
Hermund heard, across the district it rang,
that the man rode armed;
he sent the warrior a spear;
Helgi exchanged a gold ring in return.

24.
Hermund speaks, as fame travels:
"Helgi is the finest warrior,
though he brings no luck
where the young ring-woman is concerned.

25.
So shall I repay the wave's fire —
settle all his killing-cases
and bring him peace with men."
So was Helgi bought into peace.

26.
For the grief that drifted over them
Helgi was not steadied;
he could scarcely go quietly —
he did ill to many men.

27.
The poet rode to the ship with sorrow,
the crew let it out then;
they reached harbour safely;
Helgi stepped ashore.

Helgi's Pilgrimage

28.
Earl Eiríkr was now dead,
the land under King Óláfr's rule;
the man thought about his wretched state
both night and day.

29.
He held that he had acted against God
by loving the young woman;
for that sharp guilt of sin
the man got aboard a large vessel.

30.
And toward the hall of settled judgment
he readied himself to go to Rome;
he found a proud pilgrim company there;
inner fire grew in his breast.

31.
He laid bodily need upon himself always,
living on water and plain bread,
pressed with moderation and unevenly glad,
giving up both wine and meat.

32.
Merchants found the warrior during the day
and called out to his path:
"Why are you worn in fatigue and pain
more than your other companions?"

33.
"It is hard to conceal — nearby it is clear:
a woman was dear to my heart;
I loved her beyond all measure —
and for that I must make amends."

34.
The warrior went all the way to Rome,
he received correction for his case,
from the pope himself absolution from sin
he sought with full resolve.

35.
Sorrow was known through contemplation;
then he went back on the road,
came to Norway the next year,
north at once to the trading town.

The Greenland Household

36.
There the man settled in power.
The story turns out to Greenland;
I name the bright shield-grove —
Skeggi the fine, on that ground.

37.
Heriólfr's Ness, I heard, was the farmstead's name,
the man lived there, dear to men;
the woman had met a leader
and betrothed herself from a noble line.

38.
Þorunn is the name of the thorn-ground —
she is said to have had
(the matter will be clear soon)
one tooth, and it was very ugly.

39.
There a wretch lived on a small farm,
a scheming man near the sea,
men named him Þorvard the Loud;
his two sons were a bad lot.

40.
His wife, who was called Grima,
revealed many a sorcery;
trickery came very easily to them;
kinsmen's heads seemed hateful.

41.
They are kinsmen skilled in few good things,
bereft of joy down near Hel;
it came at last that the settlement ended
by dealings that lost all virtue.

42.
Men went north into the Grip,
the edge of Greenland's settlement;
they had widely there
the shape of the hunt to seek.

43.
Skeggi the fine made his ship ready,
the vessel ran north across the sea;
luck was not to be had for men —
it vanished away and was never found.

44.
It was whispered that Reim's sons
the wave's steam had sent
into Hel with manhood's release;
they will not have fallen well.

45.
Þorunn managed their farm —
it seemed now a loss to have no husband;
Ornólfr, her only brother,
governed all the kin with women.

46.
One autumn a great hollow thing was found —
Reim's sons had this trick;
the deceitful men brought it to shore
and betrothed the daughter of the battle-man.

47.
Lifgiof, I heard, repaid thus
the two treachery-full brothers —
they lured a praised man to them
and drove a spear through him.

48.
Þorkell was that man's name —
Þorunn arranged to have him wed;
at once the warrior took a strange sickness
and was tormented to death on the third night.

49.
Another man was given her;
he died with sorceries there;
lastly Bjarni asked for her —
the husband went to die on the spot.

50.
Many marvelled at this occurrence —
none, I heard, dared any man
to ask for the ring-woman;
so it went for several years.

Return to Iceland

51.
What I spoke of before in the tale —
Skáld-Helgi sat in Norway;
he meant to sail to Iceland,
and the journey will not go smoothly.

52.
The man bought for his part
a third share of the vessel waiting;
two men owned the ship —
both of them were called Illugr.

53.
The men loaded the ship's hold;
the ship lay with her cargo,
long guided thus on her way;
here the third play ends.

Ríma IV

Mansöngur

1.
I will mark the count of praise —
my learning has left me now;
each word seeks a treasure-cliff
to hold in each poem.

2.
He who earns near no honour,
hatred and no welcome —
I count among those who speak least
and waste all joy away.

3.
Men who gild themselves with grace
and gladden all with mildness —
let joy come to them and sorrow fall
and trouble find no lodging.

4.
Noble people, as is fitting,
find delight in such things —
a splendid song with written verse
to entertain the great.

5.
I begin, if the folk asks it,
loaded full with speech's words,
to praise the skald's tale of Helgi —
this is Óðinn's drink, the fourth.

The Passage to Iceland

6.
The gold-giver was ready to the full,
the ship lay with its cargo;
on a certain day with a merry sound
he came to that poor man.

7.
The rope-man — he was now in old age —
called himself Þorgils;
he asked to sail in the vessel there,
for passage by both names.

8.
"We will go directly and without delay" —
both the Illugars spoke —
then said no: "You will not come,
old man, to our harbour."

9.
"I have kinsmen, Icelandic farmers,
Auðr's children named Álvir;
it is fitting for the noble folk
to help an old man."

10.
The bold man went straight to Helgi
and spoke at length with him:
"I trust you — you will take me on,
clever man of honour."

11.
"Whatever service I can render
I will bring it freely to the man;
whatever work the lord requires,
I will serve him — none better."

12.
"I have in my bag all manner of craft
and every kind of knowledge;
the reward is paid if life holds —
I will seek out a place for shelter."

13.
The good man took in the old fellow;
the wind roared in the timbers;
then a fair wind came, and the men
sailed out from the harbour.

14.
A fierce sea rose and swept over,
the wave roared on the keel;
the anchor-ropes broke and the land was lost —
the weather grew worse in every direction.

15.
Then Þorgils the old man lay back
upon the cushions;
the help was gone, the provisions small —
all the tumult was done.

16.
The bold man on that sea —
that man so hungry for fame —
was himself a wraith at sea
and fared like a single child.

Storm and Draugr

17.
He took the sickness of Hel that night;
the man lay through till cold;
he took a rope and lashed it to the frame,
and the dead man was cast overboard.

18.
Kólga's path is cold and long —
ever on the ship I heard of need;
always following over the cold flood,
the ship was silent but for death.

19.
One night a great wave came over;
inside the ship it began to heave;
a draugr was cast from the cold water,
cold, up onto the deck.

20.
I heard of that foul shape rising up,
settling in full of evil;
the jaw-fiend gnawed the ship's frame
and spoke then one verse.

21.
Terror grew and the hull shook,
the ship's men cowered down;
nowhere flinched — though it turned always —
Helgi himself stood against it.

22.
Then the bold, fearless, quick man took
a sharp ship's axe
and struck as hard as he could
between the shoulders of the ghost.

23.
The worthy bold man gripped its feet —
the bilge-creature's feet —
broke its neck, and Helgi shot it
neck-down into the depths.

Prayer and Landfall

24.
The brave crew was glad then;
the ship was near to sinking;
with wonders it burst but never settled —
the yard-storm in the dark.

25.
The crew was driven in the cold storm;
Kæri's weather shook them;
the sea-tail reared up to the north —
I heard that they lost Iceland.

26.
The men's driver — and the weather shifting
in the mighty storm —
south in the world it was revealed to them:
they saw the guiding star.

27.
The sea broke and pressed in hard;
the people at the ship's door —
nowhere went the brave man Helgi Skáld
from the helm.

28.
Illugr bids the men press down together
and begin their strong resolve:
"Let us exhaust this peril —
we have not endured it long."

29.
"It would be foolish," said Helgi, "such a thing —
for Christian men to fight each other.
Let us take the counsel that wins us grace
and trust the true Lord."

30.
"Let us vow to Christ with twofold heart
in the danger of storm and sea."
Then help came, so the clamour quieted,
and the waves grew small.

31.
He composed then, when he saw glaciers —
the noble man of achievement:
"Now the weather carries me," he said,
"the path shown from my bride."

32.
The sea swelled and turned south,
the men sailed along;
at last it carried them to land,
so the people could rest.

33.
Glacier-land and Eiríkr's fjord —
the old man knew them well;
the mighty voyage in Falgeir's bay —
I heard the ship made land.

34.
So it was with the crew who endured the trial,
exhausted on the sea's elk —
who were then near to nothing,
all but Helgi.

Foruni's Counsel

35.
He was called Foruni — who brought joy
to offer to clever men;
a rich farmer, burgher-like in bearing,
who lived at Sun-Mountain.

36.
He invited Helgi out of danger and need,
home with him to lodging;
it went quickly in the old fashion —
and fed him twofold sorrows.

37.
As soon as clever Forni found
the bold man at the great table,
he came always to talk with the grieving man
and called him with such words:

38.
"You were driven from your bride's care,
from home and great estate;
God wills now that you forget
such counsels of desire.

39.
Understand with full faith —
you have received a great gift:
south in Rome, with honour's flower,
you sought absolution from the pope.

40.
Drive sorrow from the castle of thought
and seek not to know grief;
make always joy's call for yourself
and come with us to get a wife."

The Betrothal

41.
"You would urge a man," he answered,
"to press me toward this.
Where is the woman who is most fitting,
so the heart could rest there?"

42.
"The wealth-woman who is especially great —
she who holds all of noble Skeggi's land;
let us go at once," said Forni,
"and betroth this bride."

43.
They came to where the woman was;
the champion spoke the errand;
he took word with the ring-keeper —
Helgi sat silent.

44.
"They asked for me," said the ring-linen,
"three men in need;
luck always dealt them a blow in life —
they all lay dead."

45.
"This does not serve the purchase
of that swan-woman any better.
Where is the wealth, Forni, that shall be
given to this man?"

46.
"Hörnes-farm," said that woman,
"I will give to Helgi as betrothal-gift."
It went forward as Forni asked;
he received the land's silk.

47.
The goddess resolved to this —
he would avenge them both:
ready in battle and spear-storm,
his brother's death and Skeggi's.

48.
A winter passed, and the farmer
settled on Hörnes-land;
he fell suddenly into terrible sickness —
I ask the tale to hold.

Ríma V continues through Helgi’s illness, Katla’s healing, and the northward expedition. Rímur VI–VII complete the cycle with the battle at Greipar, Katla’s return and death, and Helgi’s final years at Brattahlíð. The source text for Rímur V–VII occupies pp. 137–162 of the Rímnasafn, reproduced in full below.

Ríma V

Mansöngur

1.
All men take to composing about a maiden's virtues near her,
so I say the least about women's beauties;
I get nothing from it but hatred and disgust.

2.
I came forward at Hárr's vessel on the shores of verse,
it was laden with poor teachings,
bound and knotted in sorrow's ropes.

3.
Many there got great abundance from fame's forge,
but I got from sorrow's slope
a full hand of bitter strife.

Helgi's Sickness at Hörnes

4.
Skáld-Helgi had turned away from renown's mingling,
ever bound fast in grief's torment,
and had taken a wife out in Greenland.

5.
The man built honour's house where they call Hörnes;
but then the sun began to sink from the man,
so that he sank down into bed.

6.
The man lay there summer and winter, sick in bed;
many spoke then of a widow for him;
the Illugar were building their ship.

7.
Men said that Þórunn tormented folk with hardships;
many go astray from the truth;
men spoke then to the lady.

8.
Illuge addressed men alongside the swift stream of words:
"Loathsome shame stands off from her —
let us beat her into hell with stones."

9.
Forni asked that the men hold back from this path;
he urged them all that this should come to nothing;
men then began eagerly to argue over Helgi.

10.
He lies thus beside the men, silent
like a stump;
it was ever dark over the man's room,
he could not go out of the gloom.

Katla's Healing

11.
The ring-woman comes to Hörnes, still wise of mind —
"What good will this do?";
she says she will boldly seek Helgi.

12.
I have heard the woman managed to kindle the candle's light;
Helgi trembled from the mind's agony,
with both hands he covered his eyes.

13.
The man asks who bore the unlawful fire;
men said it was Þórunn;
"You shall not come near me."

14.
"The death of men in painful throngs has tormented me,
grief torments my heart long,
here I have lost all my songs."

15.
"I ask that you help me with gentle grace,
so that I might learn Christian teaching —
my creed and my signing both."

16.
"Memory fails more under great sickness and burden;
such a heap of grief is perilous,
that I can neither read nor sing."

17.
Gently the ring-woman placed a soft leaf between his teeth,
it was written over with true understanding,
with the Creator's name and humanity's comfort.

18.
Immediately his condition began to improve and his mind grew better;
he trusted the Redeemer to heal the wounds;
he read all his obligatory prayers.

The Exorcism of Myrður

19.
"Has something seemed to you, man, in the sun's affliction?
Much has happened to harm me
maliciously before in this land."

20.
"A woman comes to me early each evening in the hall;
she is as white as linden-tree pillars,
she lies beside me every night."

21.
"It seems you have suffered for a bride's beauty;
what is the ring-Þrúðr's name?
She shall own fine dwellings."

22.
"She will know how to cross herself with Christian right."
Helgi speaks from the mind's gladness:
"You undertake to know quite a lot."

23.
"Myrður is named, soft in speech, the necklace-flinger;
I know none of her lineage,
she speaks not a word toward song."

24.
"You shall utter three stanzas wisely at that bride's welcome;
recite them to her with lewdness and mockery,
so she may recognize herself by that craft."

25.
"Do not change your method at all,
then the woman will flee from your arms
in my leave."

26.
Irpa came at the day's evening with evil art;
he directed at her from Venus's measure
three stanzas of full lewdness.

27.
She is the last poetic form from loathsome stock;
the yawn stands from the lava of the gums,
grinding with evil stench.

28.
Immediately all the bright appearance left the bride;
never before had eyes strained
at anything more inhuman than this.

The Flight of the Demon

29.
Myrður began to speak thus from fury and frenzy:
"Þórunn, I believe you brought this to light —
everything has gone against you in your breast."

30.
"Helgi, you want to ruin the grip with scorn and disdain,
all that kissing and caressing mocked —
I call it nearly the greatest shame in fleeing."

31.
"Embraces you have gotten often from the rich woman,
you took me, one young girl —
it is shameful to requite that thus."

32.
"Crawl away, hag-worm, from my lap,
never will your shameful kind be ended —
most inhuman of all your monstrous forms."

33.
The bride grew dark as hell as the white one fled away;
she crouched down to gnaw at the glowing embers,
she eagerly wanted to bite the bark.

34.
I have heard the skáld carried the Creator's name with understanding;
vengeance was not possible for her,
she could not come near there.

35.
The warrior made the sign of the cross with love's fear,
then the horror began to run in flight;
the man recovered from all his sicknesses.

The Wedding and Its Sorrow

36.
Þórunn speaks and urges thus — the man wanted to part them;
but the warrior chose worthily
to own the necklace-Hildr.

37.
Men drank his wedding-feast with the best of goods,
yet Helgi was long silent;
no entertainment gave him pleasure.

38.
Though the dear woman offered herself to his arms for fresh joy,
never did he set pure love
earnestly upon any woman.

39.
Katla comes to him always in mind, both evening
and morning;
the Norns' ill-fates grow hard,
the old strife was stirred up again.

40.
Therefore the man was bound hard with grief;
he was stripped of the silk-Hildr,
he slept beside her who came first to where he wanted nearest.

The Northern Expedition

41.
Þórunn urged men strongly toward an expedition,
she said the matter was to avenge Skeggi
and lay Hel's men on the battle-field.

42.
The ring-Tyr will not bow to fight with brothers;
Helgi prepared the fine ferry,
for he had it himself built before.

43.
The man chose thirty men for this expedition,
they knew how to provide wolf-food,
they have weapons and all equipment.

44.
Soon the wind began to beat hard in the sail-web, sweeping the cloth,
the rigging was tried and the oars;
they rowed and sailed north into Greipar.

45.
They got far more harm than a great forest would mean,
I believe strong magic drove it;
the warriors managed to come through in the end.

46.
Skáld-Helgi saw from the ship a broad cliff;
Hrókr saw his path from the farmhouse,
going from home and planning to hunt.

47.
Treacherous men look at the expedition that goes thence;
one was called Þórir and the other Eyvindr,
the false gray ones held back.

48.
I have heard the warrior managed to pursue the evil one;
here I will let the fifth's teaching
fall down with sorrow and weariness.

Ríma VI

Mansöngur

1.
It is bold work for me to compose
something of a love-song's play;
ever it is as though the bitter tale of woe
bids me to sink into the swamp.

2.
Rather than hearing in every corner
what is being said of me —
my verse, though it be about women,
is called out by many and scorned.

3.
What sort of thing may this be called,
though I ever understand something of it;
I am no less of Adam's line
than others who have spoken of such things.

The Battle at Greipar

4.
There must be paid now the raging spirit —
the man has come to Greip's fjord;
Helgi pursues the hell-men,
they have both fled at once.

5.
Eyvindr leapt across a single chasm,
broad on the craggy shoulder,
no less than twelve ells wide;
inside he came onto the hall floor.

6.
Þórir ran from the thanes,
the scoundrel leaped and found the hall;
they armed themselves at once and it grew costly,
the greatest tumult broke there soon.

7.
The weapon-bearer eager for battle
bids the wind from the hall's roof:
"Here we shall act as at home,"
Helgi answers and laughed.

8.
Warriors break apart the hall's foundations,
the skald swings his blade aloft;
Eyvindr — I name him the evil howler —
at him leapt with a hooked spear.

9.
The spear-point came into the thane's eye,
then the rain of wounds began to storm,
a torrent down upon the man of fame;
many things begin to tangle with him now.

10.
"The point has clawed your eye,"
the evil man answers and laughed,
"more fitting it would be for you at home
to herd the cattle than to attack me."

11.
Helgi's rage of hatred swells,
he leaps at once at the warrior in fury;
the man got Refsing's clash —
he brandished the sword Eiriksnaut.

12.
The blade rips open Eyvindr's belly,
he came to no shield then;
so forcefully with intent it went
that the intestines hung down out of the body.

13.
Helgi's stepson was named Steingrímr,
ever letting the others break;
Jökull is named as the other fighter,
who went to meet Þórir.

14.
He fought against two warriors,
Þórir fought with both hands;
there the coward came to flight —
a man's heart in a wretched body.

15.
Steingrímr's sword in steel's meeting
cut off Þórir's left hand;
he asks Hljóri to help him:
"A hand has been cut clean off from me."

16.
"I cannot help you, Hljóri,
Helgi presses hard at me;
there is no fine peace here —
blood falls from my body."

17.
The blade slices through the dark breast,
he fought no more after that,
before the sword rode upon his neck
and the head was cut off in a rush.

18.
Þórir leaves his life in this,
his bowels tumbled around his feet;
he did not fall to the ground
until he fell out through the hall's door.

19.
The warriors then found a huddle
where the old woman lay in her lair;
that was Gríma's sorcery-tool,
who had crouched down in this den.

20.
They rushed at the floor-troll,
never was born a worse creature;
Illuge offered then willingly
to beat her with stones into hell.

21.
Nytum answered, the point-Þundr:
"It is base work to beat a woman;
I will never torture a woman to death,
though it cost both life and wealth."

22.
The warriors carried wealth out of the hall,
I heard the ship was readied for revenge;
grimly Gríma sent her sorcery's work
though she lay in her corner.

23.
The warriors were reddened by the terror,
Illuge lies dead on the stakes;
they came home to Herjólfsnes,
and no one avenged this afterwards.

24.
I will speak no longer of that sorcery
which the old woman worked with her charms;
thus Helgi gained honour and goods,
for no one stood against him there.

The Lawman's Honour

25.
The ruler gave him the lawman's rank,
the land's law he set right for all;
it seemed to men there was no one nearer
as equally fit for this.

Helgi's Grief and Katla's Cloak

26.
The grim strife was never forgotten
that the warrior bore before the silk-gate;
ever was his inner fire
always sad and seldom glad.

27.
Whenever he went away to his farm,
he carried then Katla's fell —
as long as he was of any use;
close are those who must bear sorrows.

28.
But then the cloak grew old;
the loveliest gave him ring-Norn's grace;
he often received this from the woman,
and hung it above his bed.

Katla's Voyage

29.
Now we turn to Iceland —
no less sorrow was there;
Þorkatla bore longing for him
and loved no living man.

30.
All her kin were ill to her,
her kinsmen and her grim father;
she never dwelt long among people
and would see none of them.

31.
She could never cross the ground
to come to Borgarfjörðr with power;
at Sauðafell she sits to the west;
sore was their joy's breaking.

32.
Let us reckon this at Refla's bridge:
she kept her faith very well,
fasted greatly and sang learned songs;
wondrously long was her life.

33.
Long she was of pale sorrow,
the garden-woman seldom glad;
though she seemed to appear smiling and gentle,
she wept both early and late.

34.
But then it bit most sorely at the bride —
the anguish of flame within wisdom's track;
the woman tore up to her bosom
Helgi's cloak and cape.

35.
The swan at last hears word of the man;
she will not sit still;
before that hard burden of grief,
the ring-fir prepared herself out onto the ship.

36.
Katla got a place in a cargo-ship;
merchants sat in Norway through the winter;
warriors made ready a Greenland voyage,
she went to where the captain was.

37.
She wishes to travel on the voyage;
the captain did not take quickly to that;
the proud woman at the steersman
threw in a fat purse.

38.
Katla got passage in the cargo-ship,
the merchants set out with her then;
the fierce ocean-spray was not still,
Greenland was reached at late autumn.

The Reunion

39.
From home rides the bold proud man,
Helgi comes to their booth;
he senses where the woman was sitting,
the champion as soon as he perceived it.

40.
A man of honour and a seemly wife
had woven their lives about each other;
how this now changed for them —
something of that shall be told.

41.
"You have sought far to find me,
the fewest resemble your virtue."
"Much time has passed over many —
I may no longer be bound to another.

42.
Much more have you than I,
the ring-Tyr, in every way
done with this, and might have found
some measure of joy's peace.

43.
Together we were bound in childhood's faith,
I now count all of this betrayed;
I marvel most that you managed
to take and wed another woman.

44.
Great harm the kin-throng could
drive away from our plans;
you took in the beginning a cursed counsel,
and we got no peace since.

45.
Let us not care about men's talk,
let us both hazard life and soul —
before those evil battles
you had to walk this path."

46.
"Never did wealth's fortune
release me from love for you,
but rather there is this anguish:
that neither can enjoy the other."

47.
The warrior returns home with longing;
the housewife asked as soon as she could:
"What folk were in that company?"
Helgi named the steersman.

48.
"I ask of that talk-Norn
who has bound you both with long longing;
this will not long be at ease —
she shall dwell forever in this land."

49.
"You must be one of those
who forbids us the home of joy;
many have meant the same,
who stand ever against the lesser deed."

50.
Þórunn comes to the thane,
she meets the gold-ground;
bites then as the book says:
"Helgi would invite you."

51.
She says she has not heard this;
the housewife answers and smiled:
"Take lodging with us through the winter —
you will scarcely find another more cunning."

52.
"Long have I accepted poor invitations;
little will this be of joy's station";
Katla went home with her;
sorrows grew for them both.

53.
"It will seem the poorest lodging to you,
the noisy woven ground,
because with Helgi's heart-talk
the ring-fir shall never have."

54.
The wealth-ground answered not cheerfully:
"You will not let this rest;
long have I lived with such things —
many lay this on hard."

55.
Thus Þórunn set them apart from each other,
man and Katla both;
he never spoke a word to his wife;
their lives were hard.

56.
The woman was so rich in kin,
they could not better that;
thus passed this winter.
The silent poem lets this stand.

Ríma VII

Mansöngur

1.
I remember what the early wise man
said in his own words:
the wise comes often to the same judgment —
so also with my work.

2.
Most anguish has come to all of them
in their former lives;
kings' sons have known most things,
they learned virtue from women.

3.
He who lacks the arms of gold's fortune
has yet no gentleness;
he flees all the world's joys
and fathers grief and suffering.

4.
To them it matters nothing
who live as they will,
keeping themselves with honour and goods
and keeping grief from themselves.

5.
He who never regards longing
and no kind of fatigue —
he must turn away from this
and always think of other things.

6.
Let them now hear the glories told
to grasp sorrow's images,
while that miserable play is recalled within —
that three fires are kindled.

The Winter's Hardship

7.
Þorkatla was that winter
there with little comfort;
neither fared better then,
and indeed worse for both.

8.
Þórunn speaks to the ring-stem,
who presses the mother hard:
"Now shall end all your lodging
out from this household.

9.
The swan, I will tell you this,
who fathers sorrows in the branch —
you need not plan for yourself
lodging here within this land."

10.
The troubled Bil of the fallen hair
speaks fast with sorrow's lime:
"So will fate arrange
that joy's time shall pass away."

The Last Meeting

11.
The skald perceived
that he should prevent the woman;
Helgi asked his wife:
"Hold me one bed-chamber alone.

12.
You will grant me this grief to tell,
to speak with this ring-stem,
as long as three fires alone
the wealth-fir lets burn."

13.
"You will want," said Þórunn,
"to have your way in this, Helgi" —
"it will prove to be sorrow
that man and linden-thread spoke together."

14.
They led each other into the little house
where the door was shut at the entrance;
much eager were they for their meeting,
if fate might decide.

15.
I cannot here render
their words in this poem;
the warrior and the ring-fence remembered
their many great griefs.

16.
This moment in the struggle alone
that they had gotten leave together —
no one do I think has gone away
from joy's branch then without it.

17.
She came back who had lit the fire
and knocked on this house:
"I think it right with all means
to put an end to your chatter."

18.
Helgi is rather slow in answering
and speaks from sorrowful mood:
"Is the fire blazing now alone,
the ring-fir burned to embers?"

19.
"I can see that," said the falling-hair Eir,
"to the woman I believe you gave love;
now all those fires
are burned up to the foolish."

20.
"Now I think," said the thane, "I see
that heavy are the ways of women;
I never knew three fires
to burn shorter elsewhere."

21.
He rose up from the bed-board
and spoke such words from his breast:
"There is that love that none is like
and never goes from the breast."

The Parting

22.
Katla took her clothes then
and the fair ornaments of a woman;
the next day the wealth-flax went in
where Helgi worked.

23.
A lovely prow he carved for the voyage,
he delights in the fair woman;
he asks no leave at the last
of their meeting.

24.
Neither was lacking in the sad hour —
neck-embraces of a maiden nor kisses;
and with tears, the noble woman
spoke to the guardian of treasures.

25.
Here will now be revealed to Helgi
the grief of the weeping woman:
"We will never see each other again,
man, in our lives.

26.
I long ever more than suits you,"
the beloved spoke proudly;
"this burden will in the end
carry me home to hell."

27.
"You shall cast away your grief,
which may be called terrible;
better for us both at home —
bid farewell to all."

28.
Briefly it cannot be made clear
about their hard parting;
it seemed to fall from the stout man
hail through the reddened cloak.

Katla's Death

29.
Katla was borne out to the cargo-ship,
Kári shook the rigging;
shaped was for this skald's sorrow,
who had lost all his gladness.

30.
Iceland received her blazing with her own gold;
sweetly she rode to Sauðafell,
she sits with sorrows aplenty.

31.
The woman grew great in body then,
pale with white sorrow;
I reckon that while the fire blazed
such things were done in play.

32.
The sun nurtured the silk island,
sweetly served the wife;
she gave birth to a beautiful maiden
and nearly lost her life.

33.
Griefs wove around her most
in hell's broad lap;
the woman wished to find a priest
and received all the rites.

34.
The Savior's help of life and gold
she received in grace;
seldom lies a long struggle —
then the woman was released from strife.

35.
Young was the daughter called wealth-Nóra
after her mother;
courtly as may be chosen
was this Katla of mine.

Katla's Daughter

36.
She is known from all by Helgi,
the fair thorn-stem of griefs;
twelve years old was the maiden sent
out to Greenland afterwards.

37.
The warrior himself, eager for virtue,
delights in the dear woman;
he loves her like his own only child
and values her like his own life.

38.
But when the blossom leapt into the breast,
his heart was gladdened;
sweetly he took her to his arms
and spoke to the bright young woman.

39.
"Something is to be said, young maiden —
for this I will pray to Jesus —
that so dearly beloved as Katla
might never be known to me a third time."

40.
No one places in one scale
his grief the highest;
now come up those women's matters
that may next be called misfortune.

41.
Þórunn had borne three children to Helgi —
those were Helgi's women;
Hallveig I heard that one was named,
who shall dwell at home there.

Þorbjörn the Ward

42.
The aforementioned wealth-willow had raised
a beautiful boy;
his lineage would be known to men
in another way.

43.
Of good growth was Þorbjörn,
he needed more friends;
it was not held at home there
with much more honour for him.

44.
He was dressed in calf-skin
and scarlet beneath the snood,
bare legs and thighs to mid-height,
shaggy shoes on his feet.

45.
The young warrior asked Helgi
to lodge there at home:
"My situation is rather heavy —
I have little skill for craft."

46.
"I will get you words and skill,
you know nothing now;
you shall go to seek fodder
and feed yourself with work."

47.
Helgi comes to him one day
and means to look at the work:
"Hardly is this the manner of work,
and it means nothing to you."

48.
The worker, as he follows,
destroys the down of linen:
"I sharpen often but it still bites there —
it is hard for me to spin."

49.
The man challenged the boy in talk:
"Answer me about mine —
from where has come from Hafdi's line
glory at your head?"

50.
The boy paled in his breast
at bitter words' blow:
"Bear the full burden of that yourself,
all from my hands."

51.
"Speak no more, young boy,
of this responsibility;
do not wake up any work,
and drink nothing more here."

52.
The wise warrior gave him clothes,
skilled in most industry;
he went in and out with Helgi —
the greatest in deeds, the skald.

Helgi's Final Years

53.
Helgi married the gold-peace woman,
enriched her with silver and costly cloth,
moved a household to Brattahlíð
and dwelt there all his life.

54.
There was the warrior's life established,
free from all harm;
he was reckoned by men a man of mark,
greatest in all Greenland.

55.
The mighty people were ever most worn
from the most bitter grief;
Helgi the skald and Halldor's kin
bore hard anguish.

56.
Though I speak of the sore longing
of famous honourable men —
may all for whom I tell this
find their grief eased.

57.
May Jesus grant this, beloved dear,
that your flock may protect us,
that they shall not be repaid for
these my words.

58.
I found nothing more in the teachings,
the folk at the halls calls;
here shall be driven out the burst of griefs
and all of Helgi's Rímur.

Scribal Addition

Two additional stanzas appear at the end of manuscript A, separated from the rímur proper and noted by the editor as the scribe's addition, probably page-fill.

1.
Praised God, may he release us all
with his grace and mercy;
late will I find the gold-fir
who stays most in my mind.

2.
Say to Mary sweet praise,
sung from heart and mouth;
may all warriors pray for this,
that a gracious God grant us.

Colophon

Skáldhelgarímur, anonymous (14th–15th century). A seven-part rímur cycle based on the story of Skáld-Helgi, a poet of Borgarfjörður. The poem survives principally in AM 604 f, 4° (A), with copies in AM 606, AM 603 (Bm), and Ny kgl. saml. 1133 (B). A Stockholm membrane fragment preserves portions of Rímur IV–VII.

The cycle tells the story of the poet Helgi, son of Þórðr at Hofdi, whose love for Katla, daughter of Halldor of Höll in Borgarfjörður, is forbidden by her father. Ríma I establishes the courtship. Ríma II follows Helgi's departure, his time in Earl Eiríkr's court in Norway, his return and reunion with Katla, the killings at Steinar, and his outlawry. Ríma III follows the peace-settlement, his pilgrimage to Rome for absolution, and introduces the Greenland household — including the enchantress Grima, the ill-fated suitors of Þorunn, and the return voyage to Iceland. Ríma IV follows the haunted sea-voyage: a death at sea, a draugr overcome by Helgi, the storm's end through prayer, landfall in Greenland, and Helgi's second marriage at Hörnes-farm. Ríma V tells of Helgi's mysterious sickness at Hörnes, caused by the enchantress Myrður; Katla's arrival and her written healing-charm; the exorcism of the demon through three mocking stanzas; Helgi's recovery and wedding; and the beginning of a northward expedition driven by Þórunn's desire for revenge. Ríma VI follows the bloody battle at Greipar — the outlaws Þórir and Eyvindr hunted down and slain, the enchantress Gríma found hiding in the hall, and Helgi's rise to lawman. Þorkatla, desolate at Sauðafell, sails to Greenland; the cycle's central reunion brings Helgi and Katla face to face, their impossible love spoken plainly at last. Ríma VII is the long unwinding: Þórunn expels Þorkatla from the household; Helgi wins a last private meeting with Katla, their final farewell by three guttering fires. She returns to Iceland, bears a daughter, and dies. Helgi raises the girl; Þórunn's useless son Þorbjörn is taken in and redeemed. Helgi settles at Brattahlíð and lives out his days as the greatest man in Greenland. A closing prayer to Jesus ends the cycle.

Source text from Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer, vol. 1, ed. Finnur Jónsson (København: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri, 1905–1912), pp. 105–162. Public domain.

Good Works Translation by the New Tianmu Anglican Church. Translated from Old Icelandic, 2026. This is the first known English translation of this complete cycle. Gospel register.

The translator consulted no existing English translation (none exists). The Rímnasafn critical apparatus (variant readings from manuscripts A, B, Bm, and C) was consulted for textual decisions. Kennings are translated for meaning rather than reconstructed mechanically. Stanza III.9 contains uncertain vocabulary; the rendering follows the most probable reading.

Ríma I translated by Tala with Claude (NTAC), 2026. Rímur II–III translated by the previous tulku with Claude (NTAC), 2026. Ríma IV translated by this tulku with Claude (NTAC), 2026. Ríma V translated by this tulku with Claude (NTAC), 2026. Rímur VI–VII translated by this tulku with Claude (NTAC), 2026.

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

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Source Text: Skáldhelgarímur I

Old Icelandic source text from Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer, vol. 1, ed. Finnur Jónsson (København, 1905–1912), pp. 105–113. Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.

I.

Fyrumm atta ec fræda brvnn,
feck ec af skemtan liosa;
þann hefur næsta nidr j grvnn
nad med angri at friosa.

Svellit þat med sorgum kol,
svo mun hliota at bida;
hvorki nade hite ne sol
þann hrygdar iokul at þida.

Kuad ec þa fyr med katre lund
kuittr af allre pinu;
ber ec nu ei svo blida stund,
at brose ec j hiarta minv.

Liufar meyiar listug ord
locke af skalldum ungum;
ec mvn seiga af seima skord
saugu med raunum þungum.

Jafnann hafa menn eigi litt
unnat menia skordum;
su uar eigi af angri kuitt
olld, at hier bio fordum.

Halldor fra ec at hiete þegnn,
hier a lande bygde;
uar hann at morgu uitr ok gegnn,
en uarlla þo svo at dygde.

Blida atte bauga þaull
bytir snaka jardar;
byggir þar sem heitir Holl
j herade Borgar fiardar.

Yte uar med ynde blitt
audit dætra tueggia;
oskaop giorde yfret stritt
a adra þeira at leggia.

Þorkatla het þriflegt uif,
en Þordis onnur meya;
su mun angra eins huers lif
ok ærit leinge þreya.

Katlla uar þat ed kænsta fliod,
er kom fire gaufga lyde,
enn til litarens lios ok riod
latenn mitt j pryde.

Þordr bio þar er a Hofda het,
Halldors uinrenn meste,
bolstad þenna byggia let,
brvde nika feste.

Helgi fra ec at hans son uar,
hierads j bygdum midium,
efnniligri ollum þar
vngum bonda nidium.

Diarfr j lund enn dockr a har,
dreingelegr j gerdum,
madr er huorke micill ne smar,
mundans breidr j herdum.

Fyrre manna j fotspor stigr
fleygir hialms ok borda,
manna best a mote vigr
ok meistara skalld til orda.

Halldor stofnnar heim bod eitt
holda sueit med nadum;
þat hefe ec frett at þar uar ueitt
þeim Þorde ok fedgum badum.

Blidir drvcku bonda hia
bytir ofnnis ladar;
nu ma hann Helge heyra ok sia
þær Halldors dætr badar.

Þa uar kuendit komit vr laug,
er Kautlu nade at lita,
astar pilan at honum flaug,
svo innarliga nam bita.

Kærliga fra eg at kempan skyr
kallzar menia þollu;
hon er oc bedi blid oc hyr
ok broser a mote ollu.

Hugdar tal uid hreyste mann
heidrs jungfrv lagdi;
eirnnenn uillde hun sem hann
huerfa at þessu bragdi.

Huortt þa anars uilian ueit,
er ueizlan tok at lida,
settizt þeim um sinnu reit
samþyck ast ok blida.

Beint uar ecki brauten laung
bygda þeira a milli;
Helgi uenr til Hallar gaung
at hitta bauga stilli.

Bratt var þat firi bonda mælt,
at brvdi uill hann ginna;
Halldor giorir sier harlla dælt
vid Helga slikt at inna.

Segguren allvel svarade hægt,
sorg frá eg ecke þyrri,
enn fyrer kærrar kvinnu rægt
kom hann jafnt sem fyrri.

Sagde hinn, er sorger gaf
segg og menia Þrude:
"þat er mer liuft þu legger af
at locka i ordum brude."

"Þat er nu mællt af margre þiod
mest j hierade riku,
at þu blygdir burdugt fliod;
ber ec opt raun af sliku."

"Reckar uerda rett um þat
rada ordum sinum;
ec mun sialfr," at segren kuad,
"sia firi kuomum minum."

"Viliir þu blygda bauga gatt
ok briota so minn uilia,
ec skal fa til einn huernn hatt
yckra funde at skilia."

"Þa skal ec firi þyckiu ord
þetta a mote legga,
hitta jafnan hringa skord
oc hrædaz onguan segga."

Sætan innir sinum fedr
af sonnum hiartans uilia,
"all miog uilltu yfazt medur
ockr Helga at skilia."

"Þier mun þicka miog til manz
mælt," kuad brvdren huita,
"þic mun, eydir orma landz,
idran þessa bita."

"Mektug skaltu menia laut,"
meyiu suarar hann kære,
"uera þvi firr þeim uella Gaut,
sem uilldır þu honum næra."

Rada giord hefr reckrenn þa,
rækten uard at spelle,
uifit skal til vistar ga
uestr at Savda felle.

Temprazt badum tregi ok angr
af talman yndes ferda;
þeim mun hellzt til hendi langr
harmrenn þesse uerda.

Holdar badu af hringa ey
hygde garþren millde,
uita ef alma elldri mey
eydir gipta uillde.

Þegnen kuad sier þessa grein
þeygi mundu at nadum,
helldr stygd ok ulbud ein
af ollum þeira radum.

Sunnan reid til Savda fellz
sueigir hilldar klæda;
talar hann þa uid trodu pellz,
tokzt þar miukleg ræda.

Wænu segir hann uife allt
af uilian frænda sinna;
brude uard j brioste kallt,
bliknar mæren suina.

"Se þier ast a ockare nad,
sem allir þikiaz spyria,
ecki er þetta oska rad
at ætt menn þiner byria."

"Weiztu seims ef systir min
samþyck uerdr Balldri,
þa er þat uist," kuad uella Lin,
"vit munum niotazt alldri."

"Far þu helldr ok bid min bratt
ok briot so ætllan setta;
tokum upp allan annan hatt
ef ecki vinr þetta."

Sidan ecki segren beid,
sorgir yndit bana;
Helgi þegar til Harllar reid
ok hefr upp bonord suana.

"Klena uil ec nu kyrtla skord
kaupa dyrum munde,
frelsa allt ed fyrra ord
ok fa svo ualld a sprvnde."

"Vel mun þicka," þegnen kuad,
"þessara mala leitad;
veit ec ecki uist um þat,
huort verdr ei sliku neitad."

"Þess hafa forn menn fyrri spad,
er flest allt þottuz kunna,
gefaz þau jlla girndar rad
er garpar fliodvm unna."

"Þo at ut hliotum heilla bann
hartt med grimd ok edi,
mvnv vit eiga," at mælte hann,
"mest j hættu bædi."

Dreingrenn gaf so dalig snor
dygdar manne rikum,
liufara væri hann legi j kor
en lette up ordvm slikum.

"So skal ec med afle hier
yckan vilian briota,
hennar skaltu at heilum mier
huorki fa ne niota."

Firi þann allan blidu brest,
er brvggazt hefr med þioste,
Halldor fae þat Helge verst
hvgxar honum j brioste.

Fadir hans bidr hann freista helldr
at fa enu elldri brvde,
þa mun hyggia af harmme suelldr
halr af menia Þrvde.

"Wel mun þetta varlla sagt
at uæla brvdir tuennar;
ec hefi ast med ordum lagt
adr vit systr hennar."

Sa feck eigi at giptu gad,
er gabbe þessu trvde;
fullt var þetta frenda nad,
þeir falsa af honum brvde.

Wiltu þeir med uielvm hann,
er uinirner skilldu heita;
ofirisyniv ytir uann
anars bonords leita.

Sidan gengu festar fram;
frettir Katla enn uæna.
savgunne uikr sudr j Huam
til silke tialz ens græna.

Kappenn adr enn kaupit hefzt
med kraunkum ordum vendi:
"alla fel ec ef illa gefz
abyrd ydr a hendi."

Huad sem garpur ok gullazt þaull
giordu rad um þetta,
þesse urdu oskopp oll
yfir med sorg at detta.

Elldri brvde eiga gengr,
oskaop ma slikt kalla.
neyste ec ecki um raunir leingr,
niman hlytr at falla.

Source Text: Skáldhelgarímur II

Old Icelandic source text from Rímnasafn vol. 1, pp. 113–122. Critical apparatus omitted; primary manuscript A readings given.

II.

Hvad mun purfa harma slag
j hatta skipte at færa;
bo at ec yrke annan brag,
eingen uill hann læra.

Eingen er svo af glaume gladr,
giorir sier kæte langa,
begar er allr anar madr,
ef allt uill moti ganga.

Hofmen stunda j hafan pungt
heims med fogrum nadum,
enn bat ueralldar uifit iungt
Uenris fylgir radvm.

Skalld helgi vit skikiu Na
skilde, ba er hann unne;
alldri sidan ugglaust ma
audar uera hia Gunne.

Eigi leingr en aren tuenn
a samt uar hann uid brvdi,
pviat Porkautlu preyde hann en
begnnenn hatta prvdi.

Ok med Uenris uilia peim
hann vekr upp sorgir allar;
skipte goze ok skilade heim
skauta Na til Hallar.

Segrenn hafdi sier vid hond
sætu uerndaår lausa;
hygzt hann svo med hrygdar bond
hormum burttv at avsa.

Alldri uard honum yndes bot
at audar paullu neinne,
bpvi firi huerri heimsens snot
huguren lek æa einne.

Buzsan la uit Borgar fiord,
buen til hafs æ sandi;
reckuren hefr i rada giord
at rkyma j burtt af landi.

Hauldar logdu j Huita skeid,
hladin a lægi godu;
Helgi upp til Hallar reid
at hitta bauga trodu.

Hoskuzt uil ec nu hringa skord
hallda j burtt um stundir,
uita ef ræsezt kecka ord:
Rene ast sem funder.

Pu muntt siglla sudr um flod,
suarar hun menia Balldri,
ec mun lifa uid langan mod
ok letta sutum alldri.

Bidr hann uæna bauga Na
at bregda treganum hesta;
bat mun fara, kuad fliod, sem ma,
ok feill j ovit næsta.

Hrygden meir a Helga beit,
enn heimskr uirda kunni,
ba er hann af ser pornngrvnd sleit,
begn sem life unne.

Helgi kemr a Huit ar uoll
ok hliop j skip med dreingium;
begar var leidi vm laxa håll
lett med snunum streingium.

Vppe stod a pilium pa,
brautir gledinna banna,
horfer g medan haudrit sa
heim a bygdir suanna.

Sier pat nocur seima aulr
ok seger vm efnit petta:
bo erttv Helge firnna faulr,
sem feigd mune æ bic detta.

Hætt er peim uid harme, hnys
heita ast at skilia,
hinum er gott at gæfu kys
ok gengR allt at uilia.

Sidan rendi sud firi sand
sunnan Rett um ægi;
holdar tocu Haloga land
ok hittu ed bezta lægi.

Eirekr jarll med agætt lid
atte Noregi at styra;
kaupmenn hielldu nordr j Nid
æ niflungs fund ens dyra.

Borenn var upp til bæiar feingr,
buzsu giora beir toma;
Helge skalld firi herran geingr
ok heilsar jarll med soma.

Malit pitt er micit ok sniallt,
meidir taladi suerda,
po mun garprenn ecki vm allt
audnu sterkr verda.

Helgi suaradi hilmir pa,
harma fædde langa:
eiga uillda ec ædri spa,
ef eptir skillde ganga.

Se ec bat firi, kvad siolen gladr,
Svo mun æfen lida;
pu munt Helgi prauta madr,
bikia frægr uida.

Kappen hugdez kempum jafnn
af keske ordum slikum;
bar feck Helgi hirdmanz nafnn
ok heidr af jalle rikum.

Jarllen helldr jola tid
med agætuztum faungum;
ba uar heidrvt hollen frid
med huers kyns dryck ok saungum.

Jarllen talar vid gumna gladr
ok giorir sig keske latan:
einn er sa hier inne madr,
alldri se ec hann katan.

Pat ertu Helgi hirdmadr uor
hugar med ænavd strangri,
hiartad pinir harmren stor,
hvad er pier garpr at angri?

Lagt hefe ec vid unga mey
ast j harta minu;
bonut var mier bauga ey;
ber ec pvi sara pinv.

Yrkia skaltv vm yckra dygd
eitt huertt snilldar frædi;
garpren bad hann gleyma hrygd
ok gaf honum skarllaz klæde.

Par uar jtrum jarlle medur,
ut leid uintrenn kallde;
kæti eingi kappan gledr,
kom honum fatt at halldi.

Seggir leggia a sildar hrvn
siauar dyr med streingium;
kappen uill firi kost ok mvn
komazt j skip med dreingium.

Albuit liggr vte bad
Islandz far til byriar;
jarllenn kvedr ok orlofs bad
eydir dufu hyriar.

Sæmd er pier, ef sier bu pat,
at sitia j rike minv;
ecki ma, at jarllenn kuad,
uid audnu leysi binu.

Bytte hann honum enu bestu bing,
blitt uar beira j mille,
skioma einn ok skygdan hring,
skalldit packar stilli.

Sina piggr hann sæmdar giord
ok sigldi vm uollu drafnnar;
bragnar tocv Borgar fiord,
buzsan gar til hafnnar.

Katla spyr at komenn er ut
kappen pryddr stale;
begar uill fliodit fullt med svt
finna hann Helga at male.

Skorda gullz til skipsens ridr,
skorter eigi mgti;
seggren frodr ok suanen blide
sezt a tal med kæti:

Skalldit gaf henne skæran motr
ok skiku harlla vena;
ecki hafdi olden snotr
adra slika sena.

Pu hefr gefit mier ping svo rikt,
a betta fliodit minnizt,
hygg ec rett at hvergi slikt
hier a lande finnizt.

Klædenn pau er ec kappa gef
koma til uæne eingi;
bat er einn fellår af uænum uef,
vil ec pu eigir leingi.

Katla talade kærtt vid hann,
kunne rads at leita:
uit erum komin j uandan pann,
er uodaligr ma heitas

Mig hefr uiliat frænda flockr
firra ollvm nadum,
ok er pvi skyllt at skemptan ockr
skilizt af peira radum.

Somir pier, kvad seima Na,
at sefia ordit liota,
hellzt firi pvi at hedan af ma
hvorke annars niota.

Nv er bat reynt, kvad rkeckr, af mier
ræktar band med pioste,
astenn verdvr afhvga pier
alldri ur minu brioste.

Pvi skal eingi a jordu mann
ockrum fundum rada,
po at uit hlæotum harmenn bpann,
at horfir litt til nada.

Pvi at a bædi bordinn er
bolit med sarvm spreingi
fallit yfir pbpau frygdar ker,
er fyllt hafa sorgir leingi.

Bada arma brvdren lios
breidde um halsenn huita,
begnne suarar en byda dros:
bic ma ec sialldan lita.

Skorda gullz fra skipenv reid,
skallde unne mætu;
for pat allt æ fyrri leid,
fann hann iafnan sætv.

Margur lagdi meinsemis ord
madr til peira funda;
vnga red hann audar skord
æ bess meir at stunda.

Pvi var hættr harma fundr
heidrs manna tueggia,
allir uilldu ama j sundr
astum peira beggia.

Frillu sina fra ec hann let
fyr hia bonda einvm,
ytar segia hann Arnngeir het
ok atti bygd j Steinum.

Bonden hafdi brvdi uillt
ok barnad silke-Naunnu,
mælt uid Helga margt ok jillt
mest af gabbe saunnu.

Sidan hefr hid sanna frett
til seggsens tungu skæda,
botti skåmm at skiliazt slett
vid skyfir hilldar klæda.

Heiman ridr hetian frod
ok hittir bæen j Steinum;
ute fra ec at Arnngeir stod,
ytum uard at greinum.

Barnnad hefr bu brvdi pa,
ec bad pic fyrri at gæta;
nu mega holdar heyra ok sia
hveriu at pu uillt bæta.

Dæmi ec henne ei dyran rett,
dreingrenn annsaår pbessu,
pottu ganir sem gengr freitt
galenn firi huerre klessu.

Pat hafa holdar hermt æ pic,
hristir taladi suerda,
at bu kallzir Kautlu ok mic
vm kerleik ockar ferda.

Margr hefr par micit af sagt,
mun po ecki puerra;
alldri er par svo jllt til lagtt,
eigi megi po verra.

Mier somir par ecki at segia a mot,
suaradi garppuren hreine,
bo uillda ec pinu uina bot
uondu tungu meine.

Skalldit bregdr skioma pa
ok skygdan reiddi mæke,
aundu suiptr Arnngeir la,
af fra ec hofudit tæke.

Listar maådren lauk upp dyr
ok lyste bondans vige;
ordslog minkar alldri fyr
en annar nockur hnige.

Pad er j hrodre Hallar-Steins
hrings um fræken stiorra,
at firi hropan hrygdar meins
Helge dræpe fiorra.

Pegnn sa huer at pann ueg hne
bar firi suerdi hreinu;
baud hann huorke bot ne fe
ok bætti onguan neinu.

Sarr uar peira sorgar fundr,
sa ueit giorst er une.
Hier skal bresta bragur j sundr,
bid ec hann eingen kunne.

Source Text: Skáldhelgarímur III

Old Icelandic source text from Rímnasafn vol. 1, pp. 123–128. Critical apparatus omitted; primary manuscript A readings given.

III.

Lirel er mier lyst a brag,
leikr bade natt sem dag
harmurenn mier um hiarta by,
ok heidir alldri sorgar sky.

Klifar sa margr kuæden lin,
er kuendit hefr ser alldri at uin;
frygdir onguar forsta kan,
fliodum huortt er leidr edr ann.

Kunni nockr kæte brest,
kalla ec petta undr mest,
holda lid po hitte j sut,
huer skal sla firi odrum ut.

Ek trve rett at eingi hånd
aurlågx megi bau slita bond,
er svo hafa uerit med sorgum hnytt,
sigrad bædi gamallt ok nytt.

Mier er dælska um dreglla Lin
at dickta nocut mærdar uin;
skarllaz eingen skordu gledr,
skal ec pvi ecki fazt par medr.

Riman su, er ec reysta skal,
Ris hun upp med sorgar tal
bunden saman af beiskum mod
brudi ok garpp j hyggiu slod.

Skrifad uar nest j skemtan so,
skalldit fra ec at dreingi uo
ba sem hofdu hropad pav
Helga ok Kotlu bædi tuo.

Eptir petta malma mord
minka tok ed digra ord,
at beir færdu flimtr vm hann,
bo fyndi opt sinn uirta mann.

Rika hitte hann reflla brv
Recuren ner a huerre stund;
talar uid nyta nistels Na,
nu uar einginn maten æ.

Ef kunni hann nockut klentt at fa,
kaupir Helgi pegar hann ma;
bedi gull ok brendan seim
bar hann at henne hondum tueim.

Hermund atti j hieradi bu,
hetian styrde godorde su,
Illuga suarta erfdum rædr;
Ormstunga uar garpsens brædr.

Furdu jlla fiell j skap
frændum peira er skalldit drap,
at til jardar huer at hne,
Helgi bætti onguan fe.

Kifuduzt at med kappi pa,
kuomu sidan Hermund a
eptir malit Arngeirs frændr;
ollu bessv rikir bændr.

Petta kom a ping j dom,
begnar giordu at hardan rom,
var sa eingenn at uernda uill,
uirdum botti malen jll.

Verdr Helgi af uigum sekr,
uottar betta domrenn frekr,
firi giortt bædi fe ok lif;
fregnna mun pat halr ok uif.

Kappen reid til Kautlu uestr,
kærliks uar bar fundrenn mestr;
greinde hann henne sina sekt;
sætan gret ok talar med spekt.

Pad er mier eina saruzt sut,
ef svo skal ganga ævenn ut,
at bu liggir heliu hættr
hier a lande en ångu bætir.

Pat mun verda at regni er rockr,
ristell talar af sutum klockr,
vte er nu ockur nad;
jlla gefaz bau harma rad.

Kappenn skaltu keskiordr
koma til skips 2 Gasum nordr,
fordazt peira ferans dom;
far nu medan at bezt er tom.

Pa mun ec audgrvnd alldri sia,
er jafnan uillda ec uera j hia.
Hvat sem luckann lofar eda ber,
life er skylldr at forda huer.

Suo hefr astenn sigrad mic,
syrgge ec dnguan mamm nema pic,
huøortt pu ertt helldr liden edr lifs.
Leingi man hann til orda uifs.

Seggrenn skilzt ok suannen fromr,
segir bat einginn dygdar tomr
huersu at beira hiortu ok briost
hrellazt mundi af sarum biost.

Hermund spyr, um hieradit knar
at halrenn ridr uopnna far,
gaf hann ok sendi garpe spiot;
gullhring bytte Helgi j mot.

Hermund talar, sem hrodren gengr:
Helgi er einn hinn besti dreingr,
po at vid unga bauga Bil
bere hann ecki lucku til.

So skal eg launa bylgu bal,
bæta oll hans uiga mal
giora hann sattan seggi uid.
Svo uar hann Helgi keyptr j frid.

Fyrir bat angr at yfir pau drifur
eigi giordizt Helgi suifr;
feck hann uarlla farit stillt,
fiolda manna giorde hann illt.

Skalldit reid til skips med sut,
skatnnar letu sidan ut;
gatu med heilv hofnum nad;
Helgi stigr begar a lad.

Pa var jarllenn Eirek daudr,
Olafs kongs j ualldi haudr;
halurenn um sinn hrygguan hag
hann hugxar bædi natt sem dag.

Greinir sic hafa gudi j mot
giortt at elska unga snot;
firi pann sara synda ugg
seggrenn geck j rikan kugg.

Ok til salv sattær doms
so biodzt hann at fara til Roms;
pruda hitte hann pilagrims sueit;
pinann ogx j brioste heit.

Leggr hann æ sic likams naud,
lifir uid uatnn ok einfallt braud,
medi preyngdr ok misiafnt katr,
miste bædi uin ok slatr.

Kaup menn hitte kappi um dag,
kallza upp a beira plag:
bvi erttu mæddr j mædi ok pin
meir enn adrir felagar pin?

Dællt er pess at dylia nær,
dros uar mier j hiarta kær;
unna ec henne yfret nikt,
er ec bvi skylddr at bæta slikt.

Reckrenn allt til Roma geek,
Retta liknn æ male feck,
af sialfum pafa synda lausnn
sokte hann med fullre rausnn.

Sorgen vard ur sefanum freg;
sidan geck hann aptr a ueg,
kom til Noregs ed næsta ar;
nordr begar j kaup stad gar.

Par nam segren sitia rikr.
Saugunni ut til Grænlandz uikr;
skyran nefni eg skialda lvnd,
Skeggia hinn prvda a peire grvnd.

Heriolfs nes fra ec at hiete bær,
halrenn bio par gumnum kær;
fliodit hafdi fvyrdv mætt
fastnad ser af dyrre ætt.

Porunn heitir pornna grvnd,
pess er getit at hafdi sprynd
(inna uerdur efnninn skiot)
eina tonn, pa miog uar liot.

Par bio leidr a litlum bæ
lymsku madrenn næri sæ,
pegnar nefnå Porvard hreim;
biod stod illt af sonum hans tueim.

Kyngi marga kenda let
kerlling hans er Grima het;
beim uar fyrnskan furdu greid;
frenda hofudenn pottu leid.

Peir eru frændr færir uel,
enn fagnnadar lausir nidr j bel;
kom bar loks at kvaudd var bygd
kauppum peim er mistu dygd.

Gumnar foru j Greipar nordur,
Grænlandz uar par bygdar spordur,
uirdar åttu uida hvar
ueide skapar at leita bar.

Skeggi enn prvde skip sitt bio,
skutunne rendi nordur um sio;
høldum ecki happit uannzt,
huarf j burtu en alldri fanzt.

Pat var sueigt at sueinum Reims
send hefdi bylgiu eims
med mandoms leyse myrgt j hel;
mvnu beir ecki falnir uel.

Porunn geymdi peira bu
ek botte skade at bonda nu;
Ornnolf hennar einga bredr
allri slekt med uife rædr.

Haust eitt fanzt a huolfi dig
Hreims synir attu benna grip;
flærdar dreingi flytr til landz
ok fastnar dottr rostu manz.

Lifgiof fra eg pa launa svo
lymsku fulla brædr tuo,
lockudu til sin leyfdar mann,
logdu spiote j gegnum hann.

Porkell heitir pegninn sa,
Porunn red med kaupe at fa;
pegar feck kappen kynstra sott,
kuelst til dauda æa pridiu nott.

Audrum manne iatud uar;
andaz sa med konstrum par;
sidazt hennar Biarnne bad,
bondenn for at deyia j stad.

Vndrazt margr atburd pann,
eingin fra ec at pyrdi mann
bidia peirar bauga Nar;
bar svo framm um nockr ar.

Hins ec fyr j hrodri gat,
Helgi skalid j Noregi sat;
ætllar hann til Islandz nett,
eigi mun ferdenn ganga slett.

Pegnnen keypti j beire skeid
pridiungs partt er ferdar beid;
attu knoren ytar tueir,
Illugar hetu badir peir.

Bragnar hlodu borda garmm;
buzsan la med sinvm farmm
leingi pann ueg leidis til;
lyktazt hier id pridia spil.

Source Text: Skáldhelgarímur IV

Old Icelandic source text from Rímnasafn vol. 1, pp. 130–145. Critical apparatus omitted; primary manuscript A readings given, with selected variants noted.

IV.

Marka skal vid mærdar tal,
mer eru eignnut fræde,
eitt huerv ord uill audar skord
eiga j hueriv kuædi.

Hinn er fær af heinle nær
hatr en eingen mæti,
tel ec peim næst at tala sem fæst
ok tyna allre kæte.

Gumnar peir sem gullaz Eir
gledr med allre blidu,
se peim kall enn syrge fall
ok sinne ongre kuidu.

Herleg piod sem hæfvesk fliod
hendir gaman at sliku
skrautligt lag med skrifudum brag
at skemta folke Ricv.

Fell ec nidr, ef folk it bidr,
fermt af malte ord a
hrodrar salld um Helga skalld,
Herians dryck en fiorda.

Bytir gullz var bvenn til fullz,
buzsan la med farmm;
kemr vm dag med katligt slag
karlI at peim enn armme.

Seima Balldr er sia vid aldr
ok sagdizt Porgils heita;
hann bad ser far j buzsu par
bada nafnna veita.

Linne ec beint enn eigi seint,
Illugar mæltu badir,
kueda vid nei "at kemr pu ei
karlI a ockrar nadir."

"A ec mer frændr, Islandz bændr,
Aulver nefndr skalle;
heidr er slikt firi hoffolk rikt
at hialpa gomlum karlle."

Harka dreingr at Helga gengr
ok hefr svo margt j spialle:
"treyste ec pier pu takir vid mier
tignar madrenn snialle.

Lidsemd pa, er ec leysa ma,
læt ec fram vid dreingi,
dælu starff ef drottenn parf,
duga mun ec skar en einge.

Hreina uist ok huerskyns list
hefi ec j minum bagga;
leigan geldzt, ef likt henzt,
leita uil ec til plagga."

Garpren tok vid gomlum hrok;
glugit paut a stofnum,
pa kom byr enn peyge fyr
pegnar leitu ur hofnum.

Ognnar gnyr en yfir kom nyr,
alldan paut a kneri,
uiknar bond enn vatnar lond;
uedrit ogx j huerri.

Aptr læ a pilium pa
Porgils karll enn gamle,
lids var mist, en litil uist,
lokit er ollu bramle.

Harka mann j hafenu pann
halrenn frudgar giarnne
uistar sialfr, uestnar gialfr,
ok uann sem einu barnne.

Heliar sott feck hann um nott;
halren bio um kauda,
hann tok ser Reip ok nifade i keip,
Rak firi bord enn dauda.

Kolgu gangr er kalldr ok langur,
a kneri fra ec at naudi;
fylgdi a uallt um flodit kallt
far pegi peira en daudi.

Eina natt kom afall hatt,
innan bordz nam hlunka,
kastar draug ur karfa laug
kolldum up a bunka.

Fra ec pann upp enn fula skupp
fullan setiazt meina,
kiapta gifr keipen nifr
ok kuedr pa uisu eina.

Hræzlan jok, er skallan skok,
skip menn nidr at della;
huergi bra, po hyrfdi a,
Helgi ser vid petta.

Tok pa garpr traustr ok snarpr
talgu oxi huassa,
hamre slær sem hardazt fær
herda a millum gassa.

Greip mn fætr garprenn mætr
gorms a birnne hlunna,
halsen braut en Helgi skaut
halnum nidr til grvnna.

Ios pa flaustr flockrenn traustr,
fley uar buit at saukui;
med undrvm brast en alldri sazt
alma vidren dockui.

Keyrdi lid j kalldri hrid,
Kæri uoder hriste,
ægis spordr upp j nordr;
Islandz fra ec peir miste.

Virda Rekr, en vodir skekr,
j vedri feiknna giornu,
sudr j heim er synt fra peim,
peir sau til leidar stiornu.

Lægir bratt en ludest fast
lydr a hlunna dyre;
huergi gengr hreysti dreingr
Helgi skalld fra styre.

Illuge bidr at beriezt menn nidr
ok byria villu stranga:
"preytum matt la pennan hall,
ver polum ei vosit langa."

"Heimsku likt," kuad Helgi, "er slikt
at hogguaz kristnum monnum,
tokum pat rad at ter oss nad
ok treystum drottinn sonnum.

Heitum a Krist med hiortunn tuist
j haska storms ok siofuar."
Fa kom hialp, svo hægdizt gialp
ok hraner giorduzt miofuar.

Yrkir pa, er jokla sa,
afreks madrenn prvde:
"nu herr vedr," at uisu kuedr,
"uikit mier synt fra brvdi."

Pulde udr, puertt j sudr
pegnnar sigla attu;
loksens par at lande bar,
at lydir huilazt maltu.

Iokla jord ok Eiregs fiord
aulldenn gioruoll kende;
ferden Rik j Falgeirs uik
fra ec at skipenu lende.

Suo uar drott, er drygde proll,
dausvt a flædar ellgi,
er pa nær til einskes fer
ollden flest nem a Helgi.

Forune het, sa fognud let
fyrdum bioda sniollum;
bonde Ricur burgeis likr
byr at Solar fiollum.

Helga baud ur haska ok naud
heim med sier til uistar;
for pat bratt at fornann hatt,
fæddi hann sorgir tuistar.

Pegar at finnr Fornni suinnr
fæd at garpe Ricum,
kemr a tal vid kuiutan hal
ok kallzar ordum slikum.

"Pier uar bægt fra brudar Rækt,
bygd ok eignum Rikum;
gud uill nu at gleymir pu
girndar radum slikum.

Forstalldu med fulla trv,
feikztu giptu hafa
sudr j Rom med sæmdar blom,
ok soktir lausn til pafa.

Hritttu sorg ur hyggiu borg
ok harma ei vitit uænazt;
gior pier kall a gledinar halt
ok gack med os at kuænazt."

"Pu villt mann," er mælte hann,
"mie til pessa eggia;
huar er su kuon at hellzt er voll,
so hug megi a pat leggia."

"Audar brik er einkar Rik
su aU hefr Skeggi hinn prvde;
forum j stad," er Forni kuad,
"ok fostnum pessa brvde."

Kuomu par sem kuinan uar;
kappenn erindin sagdi;
hefr pa ord vid hringa skord,
Helgi sitr ok pagdi.

"Badu min," kuad bauga Lin,
"bragnar prir med naudir;
lucku skard a life uard,
peir lagu allir daudir."

"Peyge velldr petta at helldr
pinnumm kaupum suanne."
"Huar er pat fe ath, Forne, sie
feingit pessum manne?"

"Haurnes bu," kuad hetian su,
"Helga gef ec til mundar";
fram geck pat, er Forni bad;
feck hann silke grvndar.

Skallaz Bil hun skilr pat til,
skule hann hefnna beggia,
buen j strid ok brodda hrid,
brodr sins ok Skeggia.

Budt leid uetr, enn bonden setr
buit a Haurnes lande;
fiell hann ott j feiknna sott.
Frædit bid ec at stande.

Source Text: Skáldhelgarímur V

Old Icelandic text from Rímnasafn vol. 1, pp. 138–144 (AM 604 f, 4°, manuscript A). OCR text regularised where scanning introduced errors; critical apparatus not included.

V.

1. Aller taca at yrkia nær um afmors dygdir,
   kued ec þvi minzt um flioda frygdir;
   ec fæ þar ei af nema hatr oc stygdir.

2. Kom ec þar fram at kugge Hars var við kvæda
   ströndum,
   hann var fermdr frædum vondum,
   festr ok knytr sorgar bondum.

3. Margr feck þar mykla gnogt af mærdar smidi,
   en ec feck af fallda hlide
   fulla hönd af grimmu stride.

4. Horfen var þeim Helgi skald af hrodrar blande,
   jafnan spentR kravnku klandi,
   kvœndizt ut í Grœna landi.

5. Halrenn reiste heidrs bu þar er Haurnes kallazt;
   þegar nam sol æ segg at hallazt,
   svo at hann let í rekkju fallazt.

6. Segrenn la þar sumar ok vetr siukr í rekkju;
   marger toludu þa vid eckju;
   Illugar byggdu sina snekkju.

7. Þeggnar sogdu at Þorvnn ylle þrautum manna;
   margr verdr villtr enns sanna;
   virdar toludu þa vid svanna.

8. Illuge talade virda vid enn orda fliote:
   "stendr af henne lostrenu liote,
   lemium hana í hel med griote."

9. Forni bidr at fyrdar skyldi farre letta;
   olle hann at eyddizt þetta;
   orar toku at Helga at della.

10. Þann veg liggr hann þegnum hia ok þeigir
    sem stume;
    æ var myrkt yfir manzins rume,
    matte hann ecki ganga ur hume.

11. Hringa grvnd til Haurnes kemr enn hyggjusvinna,
    hvad mun þetta vitið vinna?;
    ullia kvedz hon Helga finna.

12. Kuinnan fra ec at kerta liosit kveika nædi,
    Helgi skalf af hugarens ædi,
    hondum greip firi augum bædi.

13. Ytir spyr hverr ofirisyniu eldinn bæri;
    þeggnar sogdu at Þorvnn væri;
    "þu skalt ecki koma mier næri."

14. "Mig hefr þvingad manna lat í meinum
    þröngum,
    harmren þinir hjartad löngum,
    hier firi tyne ec ollum söngum."

15. Beidec at þu bætir mier med blidu ædi,
    svo at eg kynni kristenn frædi,
    credo mina ok signing bædi.

16. "Minne tekr í mikille sott ok male at þyngja;
    hættlig er su harma dyngia,
    at hvorke kann ec lesa ne syngja."

17. Miuku bladi kom mengrund honum æ mille
    tanna,
    skrifat var æ med skilning sanna
    skaparans nafnn ok huggan manna.

18. Þegar tok hans at batna bragd ok betrazt ædi;
    lausnaren trveg at lostu grœdi;
    les hann oll sin skylldug fræde.

19. "Synnizt nockut seggren þer í solar klandi?;
    margt hefr ordit mug at grandi
    meinligt fyr í þessu lande."

20. "Kuinna nockr kemr til min þegar kvelldum
    hallar;
    svo er hon hvit sem linna þallar,
    liggr hon hia mer nætr allar."

21. "Vonn er þessat viknnir þu firi vœnleik brvdar;
    hvert er nafnit hringa Þrudar?
    hon mun eiga bygdir þrudar.

22. Kunna mun hon at krossa sig med kristnni retta."
    Helgi talar af hugarins leðja:
    "hellzt til teckr þu margs at fræda.

23. Myridr nefnizt miuk í rædum menia slöngva;
    hennar veit ec ætt drif öngva,
    ecki talar hon neitt til söngva."

24. "Vikia skalttu visum þrílur at vœnleik blide;
    kued þu þær med klam ok nide,
    svo kennaz megi hon vid þetta smide.

25. Breyte ecki brvdR at helldr bragdi sinnu,
    þa mun fliodit frítt af þinu
    fadma þie í leyfi minu."

26. Irppa kemr at aptni dags med ilsku name;
    valde hann henne af Vestra þriame
    visur þriar af fulu klame.

27. Su er enn efsta odar giord afyssu hlaune;
    geispen stendr af goma hraune
    gnidugligr med ilvurn daune.

28. Þegar tok alt hid biarta bragd af brude della;
    alldrei fyrr sa eidr þretta
    umannligra flagd en þetta.

29. Myridr tok at mæla svo af mod ok þjoste:
    "Þorunn tru ek at þessu upp lioste,
    þier hefr ordit hvert í brioste.

30. Helgi villtu hnimbrogd med hade ok þanka
    firi þat klapp ok kossa minka,
    kalla ec næsta skemd í flúka.

31. Fadmbrogd hefr þu feingit opt af fliode Ricu,
    þu tokzt mie eina unga þiku,
    omanligt er at launa sliku."

32. "Skrid þu burtu skessanorm af skaute minu,
    alldri verdur endir at þinu
    omanligazta flagdi þinu."

33. Brydian giordezt bla sem hel en í burttu ed
    hvita,
    greyfdiz nidr at geyme rita,
    giarnna villde hon barkan bita.

34. Skalldit fra ec at skaparans nofnn med skynsemi
    bæri;
    henne vard ei hefnda færi,
    hun matte ecki koma þar næri.

35. Kappen giorir at krossa sic med kærleiks otta,
    þa nam Ryggr at renna al flotta;
    recknum batnar allra sotta.

36. Þorvnn talar ok þannveg bydr, er þegnin villde
    kaupa í sundr, enn kappen gillde
    kiore at eiga menia Hillde.

37. Bragnar drvckv brudkaup hans med bestum
    fongum;
    þo var hann Helgi hliodr löngum;
    honum var gaman at leikum öngum.

38. Þo at honum kærne fliod í fang til frygdar
    grena,
    alldri lagdi hann elsku hreina
    astudliga vid kvinna neina.

39. Kemr honum jafnan Katla í hug bædi kveld
    ok morgna;
    erfit verda oskop nornna,
    uppe var þa stridit forna.

40. Þvi var hordum harme spenttr halrenn gildi;
    hann var sviptr silke Hilldi,
    svaf hann þeim firstr er næstr hann villde.

41. Þorunn giorde fyrda fast til ferdar at eggja,
    hun kvad mal at hefnna Skeggia
    ok heliar menn at velli leggia.

42. Buga vill eigi bauga Tyr vid brædr at strida;
    Helgi bio til feriu frida,
    fyr er hann let sialfr smida.

43. Þegnin valde þrjatigi mans til þessarar ferdar,
    kunnu at afla varge verdar,
    vopn hafa þeir ok allar gerdar.

44. Þegar nam liosta vind í vef svo vadum sveipar,
    reidi var þa reynd ok keipar,
    ryru ok sigldu nordr í Greipar.

45. Þeim vard helldr margt til meins enn micill
    er vidir,
    get ec at valldi galldrar stridir;
    garpar fa þo komiz um sidir.

46. Skaldhelgi af skipenu burtt sa skaulm breida,
    hroka sa fra buse leida
    heiman fara ok ætla at veida.

47. Flockin lita flærdar menn er ferdir þanar,
    Þorir het en Eyuind annar,
    vndan helldu falskir granar.

48. Ytar fra ec at illsku dreingi ellta nædi;
    hier mun eg lata fimmtu frædi
    falla nidr med sorg ok mæde.

Source Text: Skáldhelgarímur VI

Old Icelandic text from Rímnasafn vol. 1, pp. 145–153 (AM 604 f, 4°, manuscript A). OCR text regularised where scanning introduced errors; critical apparatus not included.

VI.

1. Diarfligt er mier drosa til
   at dicckta nockvt mansöngs spil;
   æ er sem böls ens beiska söng
   biðr mer at sletta í pöngum.

2. Helldr enn í hueri krá
   heyra tek ec at sagt er frá,
   kvæðen mín, þó um kvendin sé,
   kallzar margr ok hefr fyr spé.

3. Hvat má þetta kalla kyn,
   þó kunni ec æ því nöckut skyn;
   eigi er ec síðr af Adams ætt
   enn aðrir þir er slíkt hafa rætt.

4. Þar skal seldr hinn selli óðr,
   seggr er kominn í Greipar fróðr;
   Helgi elltir heliar menn,
   þir hafa sig undan báðir senn.

5. Eyvindr sprang yfir eina gjá,
   urtu bur á herðum lær,
   eigi miðr enn álna tólf;
   inn komzt hann á skála gólf.

6. Þórir undan þegnum rann,
   þjótrinn hljóp ok skálann fann;
   vopnnazt þegar ok varð dýr,
   var þar brátt en mesti stýr.

7. Vopna bór í vígi kræfr
   vinda biðr af skála ræfr:
   „hér skulu vær sem heima gá,“
   Helgi svarar ok brosti þá.

8. Skatnar rjúfa skála toft,
   skáldit bregr skjómu á lopt,
   Eyvindr nefni ec ilsku þjót
   at honum hljóp með krókaspjót.

9. Oddrinn kemr í auga þegn,
   æsast tók þá benja regn,
   foss niðr um frægðar mann;
   fatlazt tekr nú margt við hann.

10. „Oddrinn þínu auga kló,“
    ilski maðrinn svarar ok hló,
    „hentara væri heima þér
    hjarðar at geyma en sœkja at mér.“

11. Helga svelr heiptar móðr,
    hann hleypr þegar at garpi óðr,
    Röstu maðrinn Refsing hlaut,
    hann reið sverðit Eireksnaut.

12. Oddrinn ristr Eyvinds kviðr,
    ekki kom hann þá skildis við;
    at svó fast með etla gekk,
    ístrét niðr ór búk hekk.

13. Stjúpsonr Helga Steingrímr hét,
    stal en jafnan brotna lét;
    Jökull er nefndr annar drengr,
    er til móts við Þórir gengr.

14. Barðist hann við bragna tvá,
    báðum höndum Þórir vó,
    þar var komit við kylfings flúk
    karlmanns hjarta í leiðan búk.

15. Steingrims sverð í stála fund
    styfti af Þorir vinstri mund;
    hljóra biðr hann hjálpa sér:
    „hönd er skúfð burtt af mér.“

16. „Hljóra má ec ei hjálpa þér,
    Helgi sœkir fast at mér,
    ekki er hér en fagri friðr,
    falla ór mínum búk jóðr.“

17. Mœkir snýðr brjóstit blá,
    berst hann aldri meir en þá,
    áðr enn hjörr á hálsen reið,
    höfuð í burtt af þjóti sneiðt.

18. Þorir líf í ýessu lœtr,
    þarmar roktust honum um fœtr;
    hnígr hann ei til foldar fýr
    en fell hann út um skála dúr.

19. Kappar hittu krubbu þá,
    er kerling fyr enn arma lá,
    þat var Gríma galdra tól,
    er grúffði niðr í þetta ból.

20. Fósa þir við fletju þrlll,
    fœddist aldri verra tröll;
    Illuge léts þá liðugr vel
    at lemja hana með grjóti í bel.

21. Nytum svaraði naddaÞundr:
    „nýðugligt er at lemja sprund,
    kvel ec aldri konu til dauðs,
    þó kosti bæði lífs ok auðs.“

22. Skatnar báru ór skála fé,
    skútan frá ec til reiðu sé;
    grímma sendi galdra aur
    Gríma, þótt hón lœgi í kór.

23. Ytir urðu af ögnum rauðr,
    Illuge liggr á pílum dauðr;
    kómu þir heim til Herjólfs nes,
    hefndi engi síðan þss.

24. Tala ec eigi lengr um tröllskapr þann,
    sem tafra fullast kerling vann;
    því fekk Helgi heiðr ok goz
    at honum stóð engi þar til móts.

25. Lýðrinn gaf honum lögmanns stett,
    landzenns skipar hann öllum rétt;
    ytum þótti engi nœr
    jafn vel vera til þessa fær.

26. Gleymdist aldri it grimma stríð,
    er garðrinn bar fyr silki hlíð;
    æ var hans hún í nœri hvarr,
    jafnan hryggr en sjaldan glaðr.

27. Þgar hann fór á bœ í braut,
    bar hann þá feldinn Kötlu naut;
    á meðan hann var til nökkurs nýr;
    nánd er ¾im sem sorgir hlýr.

28. En þá gerðist feldrinn forn,
    fríðust gaf honum bauga Norn,
    fekk hann opt af fljóði þín,
    festi hann upp yfir rekkju sín.

29. Víkum nú til Íslands út,
    öngv var þar minni sút;
    Þorkatla bar þrá fyr hann
    ok þýdist öngvan lifanda mann.

30. Öllum var henni illa meðr
    ættmenn sína ok grimmum feðr,
    aldri dvalðist ytum hjá
    ok öngvan þira vill hún sjá.

31. Mátti aldri metra jörð
    megtug koma í Borgarfjörð;
    at Sauðafelli sitr hón vestr;
    sár var þira yndis brestr.

32. Reiknum hit at Refla brú,
    hón rœktar allvel sína trú,
    fastar mikit ok frœðin söng;
    furðu var hennar œvín löng.

33. Löngum var hón með láðri rauð,
    lauka skorðinn sjaldan glöðð;
    þó at hón syndist brosdandi blíð,
    bæði grét hón árla ok síð.

34. En þá mest á brúði beit
    bálsins angr í vízkú rétt,
    fljóðit upp í fang sér braut
    felld ok skikkju Helga naut.

35. Svǻnin loks af seggnum spyrr;
    sitja vill hón ekki kyr;
    fyr þann harða harma sníp
    hringþöll bjó sig út á skip.

36. Katla fekk í kneri setr;
    kaupmenn sátu í Nóregi um vetr;
    garpar bjuggu Grœnlands far,
    gekk hón til þar formaðr var.

37. Ferðast vill hón flaustri í;
    formann tók ekki skjótt á þúí;
    stýrimanni stóltar fljóð
    steypti í keylltu digrum sjóð.

38. Katla fekk í kneri rúm,
    kaupmenn héldu þegar á hún;
    eigi var gjálfrit grimdar laust,
    Grœnland tókn síð um haust.

39. Heiman ríðr hétinn þrýðr,
    Helgi kemr í þira búð;
    kennir þá hvar kvenðit sat,
    kappinn þegar er skynjat gat.

40. Heiðrs maðr ok hœfvesk víf
    mörg um anars spenti líf;
    hversu ¾im við þetta brá,
    þar skal nökkut greina í frá.

41. „Leiðað hefr þú langt til mín,
    líki fœztum er dygðin þín.“
    „Mitt er þat yfir margan gengr,
    mátta ec ekki bindast lengr.

42. Myklu hefr þú meirr enn ec
    menia Týr á öllum vegg
    ert við þúí at gætum nið
    gleðinar feingit nökkurn frið.

43. Bundum saman í bernsku trú,
    brugit tel ec þvíöllu nú;
    mér undrar mest þú eiga geczt
    aðra kvinnu ráðit feczt.

44. Stór illa gat frœnda flökkr
    lalsat í burtt af ráðum öckr;
    þú toczt í fystu forðœmt ráð
    ok feingum síðan aldri náð.

45. Hirðum ekki um holda mál,
    hœttum bæði ut lífi ok sál,
    áðr fyr þau enu vondu víg
    varttú at kanna þenna stíg.“

46. „Eigi hvatti auðgrund mié
    elsku leyse til við þié,
    helldr læ sú hörmmung al
    at hvörke anars njóta má.“

47. Halurinn víkr heim með þrá;
    húsfrú spurði þegar hón má:
    „hvert var folk í hopenn þann?“;
    Helgi nefndi stýrimanni.

48. „Spyr ec at þere spiallda Ná,
    sem spenttr hefr yðr með langri þrá;
    ekki mun þat all löng náð
    eiga skal hón æ þessare láð.“

49. „Þú muntt vera nú ein af ¾im,
    at öckur bannar gleðinar heim;
    margur hefr þat meinaðr sá,
    er minni vörkuðr stár upp æ.“

50. Þórunn kemr á þegnna fund,
    þýða hitti hón gullazt grund,
    bittr þá sem bóken tér:
    „bjóða mundi hann Helgi þér.“

51. Hún kvez ekki heyrt hafa þat;
    hústru svarar ok brosti at:
    „þig með öckr vist í vetr,“
    varlla aðra slœgri getr.

52. „Löngum þig ec lelli boð;
    lítill mun þat yndis stoð“;
    Katla for með henne heim;
    harmar aukast báðum ¾im.

53. „Þér mun þicka vandast vist,
    vella grundin hljóð ok tvist,
    þvíat við Helga hugðar tal
    hringþöll aldri eiga skal.“

54. Auðgrund svaraði eigi kát:
    „ekki muntu þörkun lát;
    lengi hefi ec lifað við slíkt,
    leggr margr á þetta ríkt.“

55. Svó gat Þórun sétt um þau
    segg ok Kötlu bæði tvó,
    aldri mœlti hann orð við víf;
    erfitt mundi þira líf.

56. Fljóðit var svó frœnda ríkt,
    fá þau ekki betrat slíkt;
    þann veg líðr þessi vetr.
    Þögnu bragr enn standi létr.

Source Text: Skáldhelgarímur VII

Old Icelandic text from Rímnasafn vol. 1, pp. 153–162 (AM 604 f, 4°, manuscript A). OCR text regularised where scanning introduced errors; critical apparatus not included.

VII.

1. Man ec þat fyr at maðr en spakr
   mœlti orðs kvið sínum:
   svinn kemr opt hið sama í akt,
   svó er og verknáð mínum.

2. Öllum hefr ¾im orðit mest
   angr í fyrra lífi,
   konga synir hafa kunnat flest,
   kendu dygð af vífi.

3. Hinn er fœrr af hröndum seims
   hattr enn öngva blíðu,
   flœðr öllum frygðum heims,
   fœðir harm ok kvíðu.

4. Þim er ekki þat til móts,
   er þann veg lifa sem vilja,
   halda sig með heiðr ok goz
   ok harma frá sér skilja.

5. Hinn sem aldri acktar þrá
   ok einskes hattar mœði,
   þann skal hverfa ýessu frá
   ok þenkja æ önnur frœði.

6. Heyre þir nú hróðrar til
   at hendast sorgar myndir,
   rú meðan þat innizt auma spil,
   at eldar þriðr eru kyndir.

7. Þorkatla var þenna vetr
   þar með lítllum náðum,
   hvörskis stóð þá hagr betr
   ok helldr verra báðum.

8. Þórunn talar við þorna Rist,
   er þvíngar móðrinn harðe:
   „nú er rú enda öll þín vist
   út af þessum garðe.

9. Svǻninn vil ec þat seigia þér,
   er sorgir fœðir tvistar,
   þú þarft ekki at œtla þér
   hér innann landz til vistar.“

10. Frygðug mœlte fallda Bil,
    fest með sorg ar líme:
    „svó munu aurlög œtla til,
    at af sé gleðinar tíme.“

11. Skáldit þóttist skynja þat
    at skyldi hón fljóðit meina;
    Helge sína hústrú bað:
    „hallt mér beðne eina.

12. Lofa muntu mér tregana at tjá,
    tala með Rist í þenna,
    á meðan at eina elda þriá
    at auðpöll lœtr brenna.“

13. „Þú muntt vilja,“ at Þórunn kvað,
    „ýessu Helgi ráða“;
    synt mun vera til sorgar þat
    segg ok linde þráða.

14. Leiddust þú í lítet hús,
    er lúkt var hurð á gœtti;
    mjög voru þau til funda fús,
    ef forlög ráða mœtti.

15. Þygi kann eg þira orð
    í ýessu kvœði at tína;
    minntist halrr ok menia skörð
    at mykla harma sína.

16. Þsse stund í þralútum ein
    at þau hafa leyfi feingit,
    engi trú ec at yndis grein
    undanhafi þá geingit.

17. Kom sú aptr er kynti bál
    ok knúdi búsen þetta:
    „œtla ec rétt með öllu mál
    yckra skrafi at letta.“

18. Helgi er helldr í svörunum seinn
    ok svarar af ecka móðum:
    „er nú bruninn blossen ein
    bauga þöll að glóðum?“

19. „Fœ ec þat séð,“ kvað fallda Eijr,
    „fljóðe trú ec þú unnir;
    nú eru aller eldar þir
    upp at fölska brunner.“

20. „Þinckiumzt ec nú,“ kvað þegninn, „sjá
    at þung eru vmsat kvenna,
    öngva vissa ec elda þriá
    aðra skemr brenna.“

21. Reis hann upp frá Refla brik
    ok rœddi slíkt af þjóste:
    „þar er sú ást at engi er slík
    ok aldri gengr ór brjóste.“

22. Katla tok þá klœðenn sín
    ok kvennmanns hnosser fríðar;
    annan dag gekk auðar Lin
    inn þar er hann Helgi smiðar.

23. Fríðan skóf hann ferju stafnn,
    fagnar vœnu sprund,
    leyfi biðr hann ekki nafnn
    efzt í þira fundi.

24. Hvörke skorti á hrygðar stund
    hálsföng þrýð né kossa,
    ok með tárum tigit sprund
    talar við geyme hnossa.

25. Hér mun nú fyr Helga tjazt
    harmr af grátnu vífi:
    „vit munum aldri síðan sjást
    seggr í öckru lífi.

26. Stunda ec meir enn stœði þér,“
    stóltuzt talade kœra,
    „sjá mun heim til heljar mér
    barmr um síðir fœra.“

27. „Hrinda skaltu harmi þínum,
    er hrœðiligan má kalla;
    bœt fyr öckr báðum heim,
    bið þú lúku ölla.“

28. Skotnnum verðr ei skýrt til sanz
    um skilnáð þira trauðan;
    hrjóta þótti hreysti manz
    hagl í kyriel rauðan.

29. Katla var borin á knerinn út,
    Kári voðir hriste;
    skaupuð var ýessu skáldi sút,
    er skemtan alla misti.

30. Ísland tóku eyðir vallz,
    aurum sínum lóga;
    sœtan reið til Sauðafells,
    hón sitr með barma nóga.

31. Drosen tekr at digraz helldr
    döpur af harmi bleikum;
    get ec á meðan at glœðzt hefr eldr
    gert hafi slíkt í leikum.

32. Sóllar kenndi silke ey,
    sœtr þjóna vífi;
    fœddi hún eina fagra mey
    ok fell þat nœra lífi.

33. Harmar vafðu at henne mest
    heljar skauti breiðu;
    fljóðit villde finna prest,
    ok fekk hón alla reiðu.

34. Lausnarans hjálpenn líf ok aur
    líknar hún menia Fríðe;
    sjaldan lygur en langa kaur,
    léts þá sprund af stríðe.

35. Ung var köllut auðar Ná
    eftir móðr sinne;
    kúrteisleg sem kjósa má
    var Katla þesse en mínne.

36. Hún er af öllum Helga kend,
    harma Ristel fríðan,
    ára tólf var jungfrún send
    út til Grœnlandz síðan.

37. Dreingrinn sjalfr dygðar gjörn
    dýru fagnar vífi;
    hann elskar sem sitt einka barn
    ok ann sem sínu lífi.

38. En þá er blóm í brjóstit sprang,
    bilagt fekk hans hjarta,
    sœtu tekr hann sér í fang
    ok segir við sprundið bjarta.

39. „Þér er at seigia en þýða mœr,
    þss vil ec Jesus biðja,
    at svó engi Kötlan kœr
    kennizt mér eno þriðja.“

40. Engi leggr í eina skál
    angrit hans er hœsta;
    kómu nú upp þau kvenna mál
    at krúpr mega heita et nœsta.

41. Borinn öllum Þórunn þrjú,
    þat var Helga kvinna;
    Hallveig frá ec at héti sú,
    er heima þar skal ninna.

42. Fœddan hafði fríðan svein
    fyr nefnd auðar selja;
    œtt hans verðr ytum seinn
    anars vegar at telja.

43. Þiroska góðr Þorhjörn var,
    hann þurfte at vina fleira;
    honum var ekki heima þar
    hallt stimit meira.

44. Skrýðr var hann með skinne kalfs
    ok skarlt svó fyr snotum,
    leggir berir ok lær til halfs,
    loðnir skór á fótum.

45. Helga beiðdi halrenn ungr
    heima þar til vistar:
    „hagrentr minn er hellzt til þungr,
    hefr ec fatt til listar.“

46. „Ek skal fá þér orð ok lis,
    öngva kanntu sín nú;
    þú skalt farra fóðr at sím
    ok fœða þér með vinnu.“

47. Helgi kemr til hans um dag
    ok hyggst á verk at líta,
    „varlla er þetta vinnu lag,
    ok vill þér ekki bíta.“

48. Yrker sá, sem eftir fer,
    eyðir dúnu linna:
    „bryn ec opt enn bitr at ur,
    bægt er mér at ninna.“

49. Seggurinn hefr við sveininn rétt:
    „svara þú orð um mínum,
    hvaðan er kominn ór Hafda œtt
    hróðr at glópe þínum?“

50. Blíknna naði í brjóste svein
    með beiskum orðum vendi:
    „ber þú af þvíabyrd einn
    alla af minni hendi.“

51. „Tala þú ekki ungur svein
    um abyrd þessa meira;
    vakta þú ekki verknáð neirn
    ok vin hér ekki fleira.“

52. Klœði gaf honum kempann svinn,
    kœnn við iðjan flesta;
    gekk með Helga út ok inn
    afreks skáldit mesta.

53. Gipti Helgi gullazt Fríðe,
    gœddi silfri ok þelle,
    færði bygð í Brattá hlíð
    ok bjó þar allt til elde.

54. Þar var ytis œve staðr
    öllu firdur grande,
    þótti af ytum merkis maðr
    mestr á Grœnalande.

55. Mœðist jafnan megtug þjóð
    mest af angre sáru;
    Helgi skáld ok Halldors jóð
    harðan angist báru.

56. Þótt ec segi af sáre þrá
    sœmðar manna frœgra,
    öllum verðe er inne ec frá
    angr sitt at hœgra.

57. Jesús gefi þat elskan kœr
    oss megi þínú forða,
    þygi gjaldi þau né ér
    þessara minna orða.

58. Faunzt ec ekki í frœðum lengr,
    folk at höllum kallar;
    hér skal úte harma sprengr
    ok Helgis rímur allar.

Scribal addition, manuscript A only (noted by editor as scribe’s addition, probably page-fill):

1. Lofaðr guð hann leyse oss öll
   með líkn ok miskunn sinne,
   seint mun ec finna seima þöll,
   sú er mér hellzt í minne.

2. Segit Maríu sœtligt vess,
   sungit af hjarta ok munne;
   biðje nú aller bragnar þss,
   at blíðr guð oss unne.

Source Colophon

Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer, vol. 1, ed. Finnur Jónsson (København: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri, 1905–1912), pp. 105–162. Public domain. Primary manuscript: AM 604 f, 4° (A). Source text presented without the critical apparatus (variant readings from B, Bm, and C manuscripts are in the Rímnasafn footnotes). OCR text from Internet Archive; some characters regularised where scanning introduced errors.

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