Asatru Folk Assembly - Grípisspá — Sigurðarkviða Fáfnisbana I, a reading

00:00:00.000 Gripispa, Grip Eater's Prophecy, also known as Sigrid Dark Vitha Fafnis Bauna 1.

00:00:30.000 The first lay of Sigurd Fafnir's Slayer.

00:00:34.340 The Grapispa immediately follows the prose Fra Dauta Sinfiotla in the Codex Regius,

00:00:41.640 and is contained in no other early manuscript.

00:00:45.120 It is unquestionably one of the latest of the poems in the Edith collection.

00:00:49.640 Most critics agree in calling it the latest of all, dating it not much before the year 1200.

00:00:55.240 Its author, for in this instance the word may be correctly used, was not only familiar with the other poems in the cigarette cycle, but seems to have had actual written copies of them before him.

00:01:10.660 It has indeed been suggested, and not without plausibility, that the Gripispa may have been written by the very man who compiled and annotated the collection of poems preserved in the Codex Regius.

00:01:22.280 In form, the poem is a dialogue between the youthful Sigurd and his uncle, Dripil, but in substance it is a condensed outline of Sigurd's whole career as told piecemeal in the older poems.

00:01:37.400 The writer was sufficiently skillful in the handling of verse, but he was utterly without

00:01:44.260 inspiration. His characters are devoid of vitality, and their speeches are full of conventional

00:01:50.300 phrases with little force or incisiveness. At the same time, the poem is of considerable interest

00:01:57.380 as giving, in brief form, a summary of the story of Sigurd, as it existed in Iceland,

00:02:03.660 for the Gropispa is almost certainly Icelandic in the later half of the 12th century.

00:02:11.280 It is not desirable here to go into detail into immensely complex questions

00:02:16.260 of the origin, growth, and spread of the story of Sigfrid.

00:02:21.980 The volume of critical literature on the subject is enormous,

00:02:25.860 and although some of the more patently absurd theories have been eliminated,

00:02:30.400 there are still wide divergencies of opinion regarding many important points.

00:02:37.620 At the same time, a brief review of the chief facts is necessary

00:02:41.620 in order to promote a clearer understanding of the poem which follow

00:02:44.520 and which make up more than a third of the edit collection.

00:02:50.220 That the story of Sigurd reached the north from Germany

00:02:53.480 having previously developed among the Franks of the Rhine country

00:02:56.740 is now universally recognized.

00:02:58.920 How and when it spread from northwestern Germany into Scandinavia are less certainly known.

00:03:06.920 It spread indeed in every direction, so the traces of it are found wherever Frankish influence

00:03:12.700 was extensively felt.

00:03:15.080 And it was clearly better known and more popular in Norway and in the settlements established

00:03:20.100 by Norwegians than anywhere else.

00:03:24.240 We have historical proof that there was considerable contact, commercial and otherwise, between

00:03:30.480 the Franks of northwestern Germany and the Norwegians, but not the Swedes or the Danes,

00:03:36.440 throughout the period from 600 to 800.

00:03:40.680 Coins of Charlemagne have been found in Norway, and there is other evidence showing a fairly

00:03:45.380 extensive interchange of ideas as well as of goods.

00:03:50.000 Presumably then, the story of the Frankish hero found its way into Norway in the 7th century.

00:03:55.620 While at this stage of its development, it may have conceivably have included a certain amount of verse,

00:04:01.880 it is altogether probable that the story as it came into Norway in the 7th century was told largely in prose,

00:04:09.700 and that even after the poets had got a hold of it, the legend continued to live among the people in the form of oral prose saga.

00:04:18.040 The complete lack of contemporary material makes it impossible for us to speak with certainty

00:04:25.760 regarding the character and content of the cigarette legend

00:04:29.680 as it existed in the Rhine country in the 7th century.

00:04:34.040 It is, however, important to remember that often overlooked fact

00:04:38.620 that any popular traditional hero becomes a magnet for originally unrelated stories of every kind.

00:04:45.880 It must also be remembered that in the early Middle Ages, there existed no such distinction between fiction and history as we now make.

00:04:56.200 A saga, for instance, might be anything from the most meticulously accurate history to the wildest fairy tales.

00:05:03.380 And a single saga might, and sometimes did, combine both elements.

00:05:09.440 This was equally true of the Frankish traditions, and the two principles just stated account

00:05:16.320 for most of the puzzling phenomenon in the growth of the Sigurd story.

00:05:22.140 Of the origin of Sigurd himself, we know absolutely nothing.

00:05:26.380 No historical analogy can be made to fit in the slightest degree.

00:05:30.700 If one believes in the possibility of resolving hero stories into nature myths, he may be

00:05:35.760 explained in that fashion, but such a solution is not necessary.

00:05:41.320 The fact remains that from very early days Sigurd, also known as Sifrit, was a great

00:05:47.000 traditional hero among the Francs.

00:05:49.580 The tales of his strength and valor, of his winning of a great treasure, of his wooing

00:05:54.680 a more or less supernatural bride, and of his death at the hands of kinsmen probably

00:06:00.600 were early features of this legend.

00:06:03.580 The next step was the blending of this story with one which had a clear basis in history.

00:06:10.080 In the year 437, the Burgundians under their king Gundacarius, so the Latin histories call

00:06:15.960 him, was practically annihilated by the Huns.

00:06:18.960 The story of this great battle soon became one of the foremost of Rhineland traditions,

00:06:24.420 and though Attila was presumably not present in person, he was quite naturally introduced

00:06:29.640 as the famous ruler of the invading hordes.

00:06:33.060 dramatic story of Attila's death in the year 453 was likewise added to the tradition, and during

00:06:40.820 the 6th century the chain was completed by linking together the stories of Sigurd and those of the

00:06:46.220 Burgundian slaughter. Gundakarius became the Gunther of the Niblingelid and the Gunnar of the

00:06:53.960 Edic poems. Attila becomes Etzel and Otli. A still further development came through the addition of

00:07:02.600 another and totally unrelated set

00:07:04.820 of historical traditions

00:07:06.060 based on the careers of

00:07:08.320 Erminaric, King of the Goths,

00:07:10.960 who died about

00:07:12.700 the year 376.

00:07:15.360 Erminaric figures

00:07:16.840 largely in many stories

00:07:18.940 unconnected with the Sigurds cycle,

00:07:21.500 but with the zeal

00:07:22.760 of the medieval storytellers

00:07:24.600 for connecting their heroes, he was introduced

00:07:26.720 as the husband of Sigurds daughter,

00:07:29.440 Svanhid,

00:07:30.040 herself originally part of a separate narratives group

00:07:33.500 and as Jormunrik

00:07:36.080 he plays a considerable part in a few of the Etic poems

00:07:39.280 Such briefly appears to have been

00:07:43.340 the development of the legend

00:07:44.760 which before it came to Norway

00:07:47.320 Here it underwent many changes

00:07:49.740 though the clear marks of its southern origins

00:07:52.400 were never obliterated

00:07:53.740 The names were given Scandinavian forms

00:07:56.780 and in some cases were completely changed

00:08:00.680 Example, Kremhild becomes Guthrund.

00:08:05.020 New figures, mostly of secondary importance, were introduced,

00:08:09.240 and a large amount of purely northern local color was added.

00:08:14.040 Above all, the earlier part of the story was linked with northern mythology

00:08:18.580 in a way which seems to have had no counterpart among the southern Germanic peoples.

00:08:23.440 The Wurzungs became direct descendants of Odin.

00:08:27.180 The gods were closely concerned with Fafnir's treasure, and so on.

00:08:33.020 Above all, the Norse storytellers and poets changed the figure of Brynhild

00:08:37.120 in making her a Valkyrie sleeping on the flame-grit rock.

00:08:41.540 They were never completely successful as she persisted in remaining,

00:08:45.280 to a considerable extent, the entirely human daughter of Bluthli,

00:08:49.760 whom Sigurd was Rgunar.

00:08:52.620 This confusion, intensified by Mexican names,

00:08:56.640 see the introductory note in Sigurd Fulmar, and much resembling that which existed in the parallel cases of Zvava and Sigrun in the Helgi tradition,

00:09:07.340 created difficulties which the Norse poets and storytellers were never able to smooth out, and which have perplexed commentators ever since.

00:09:16.900 Those who read the singlet poems in the Edda, or the story told in the Vlsunga Saga, expecting to find a critically accurate biography of a hero, will of course be disappointed.

00:09:30.480 If, however, they will constantly keep in mind the general manner in which the legend grew, its accretions ranging all the way from the Danube to the Iceland, they will find that most of the difficulties are simply the natural results of conflicting traditions.

00:09:49.980 Just as the Danish Helgi had to be reborn twice in order to enable three different men to kill him, so the story of Sigurd, as told in the Eddic poems, involves here and there inconsistencies explicably, only when the historical development of the story is taken into consideration.

00:10:14.100 Gripispa

00:10:14.820 Grypyr was the name of Alemi's son, brother of Heurus.

00:10:22.460 He ruled over Lans and was of all men the wisest and most forward-seeing.

00:10:29.760 Sigurd once was riding alone and came to Grypyr's hall.

00:10:34.860 Sigurd was easy to recognize.

00:10:36.680 He found out in front of the hall a man whose name was Getir.

00:10:41.720 then Sigurd questioned him and asked who is it has this dwelling here or what

00:10:49.440 do men call the people's king and get here spake grippier the name of the

00:10:56.420 chieftain good who holds the folk in the firmland ruled Sigurd spake is the king

00:11:04.640 all-knowing not within but the monarch come with me to speak a man unknown is

00:11:11.360 council needs, and grippier fane I soon would find.

00:11:17.120 Getir spake, the ruler glad of Getir wask, who seeks with grippier speech to have.

00:11:25.980 Sigurd spake, Sigurd am I, am Sigmund's son, and cureless the name of the hero's mother.

00:11:35.240 Then Getir went, and to grippier spake.

00:11:38.600 A stranger comes, and stands without, Lofty he is to look upon, and prince thyself he

00:11:45.700 fain would see.

00:11:48.600 From the hall the ruler of heroes went, And greeted well the warrior come.

00:11:55.360 Sigurd, welcome! 0.99

00:11:57.400 Long since had been thine, Now get here, shalt thou granny take. 0.99

00:12:03.920 And of many things they talked, When thus the men so wise admits. 0.99

00:12:10.980 Sigurds spake.

00:12:12.980 To me, if thou knowest my mother's brother, Say what life will Sigurds be? 0.99

00:12:19.160 Grippir spake.

00:12:21.600 Of men thou shalt be On earth the mightiest,

00:12:25.320 And higher famed than all the heroes, Free of gold-loving, slow to flee,

00:12:31.140 Noble to see, and sage in speech.

00:12:35.000 Sigurd spake, Monarch-wise, now more I ask,

00:12:39.700 To Sigurd say, if thou thinkest see, What first will chance of my fortune fare?

00:12:46.540 What hence I go from out thy home?

00:12:50.560 Grippier spake, First shalt thou prince thy father avenge,

00:12:56.560 nigh limmy their ills requiting. The hardy sons of Hunding thou soon shall fell, and 0.69

00:13:03.320 victory find.

00:13:06.280 Sigurd spake, Noble king, my kinsmen say, Thy meaning true, for our minds we speak.

00:13:14.680 For Sigurd mighty deeds dost see, The highest beneath the heavens all.

00:13:20.720 Sigridir spake, The fiery dragon alone thou shalt fight,

00:13:26.600 That greedy lies agening its headh, Thou shalt be of Regan and Fafir, 0.85

00:13:34.480 Both the slayer, truth both Grippir thee tell thee. 0.50

00:13:41.600 Sigridir spake, Rich shall I be if battles I win,

00:13:46.900 such as these and now thou sayest forward look and further tell what the life that i shall lead

00:13:56.020 grippier spake fafnir fafnir's din thou shalt find and all his treasure fair shall take

00:14:05.380 gold shalt heap on grani's back and proved in fight to yucky fair

00:14:11.220 Sigurd spake, to the warrior now, in words so wise, monarch noble more shall tell, I am

00:14:22.940 Gukki's guest, and thence I go, what the life that I shall lead.

00:14:29.780 Grippir spake, on the rocks there sleeps the ruler's daughter, fair in armor since Helgi

00:14:36.840 fell. Thou shalt cut with keen-edged sword, and cleave the bernie with Fafnir's killer. 0.98

00:14:46.520 Sigurd spake. The mail-coat is broken, the maiden speaks. The woman who from sleep is 0.98

00:14:54.060 awakened. What says the maid to Sigurd then, the happy fate to hero brings?

00:15:02.620 Sigurd spake. Runes to the warrior wilt she tell. All the men may ever seek, and teach

00:15:10.220 thee to speak in all men's tongues, and life with health. Thou art happy, king.

00:15:20.340 Sigurd spake. Now is it ended. The knowledge is won, and ready I am for thence to ride.

00:15:28.720 would look and further tell what the life that I shall lead grippier spake then

00:15:36.040 to high mirrors home thou comest and glad shall be the guest of the king ended

00:15:42.580 cigarette is all I see no further ought of grippier ask cigarette spake sorrow

00:15:50.920 brings me the word thou sayest for monarch forward further thou seest sad

00:15:57.700 the grief Sigurd thou knowest yet not to me grippier known wilt make grippier spake before

00:16:08.200 me lay in clearest light all of thy youth for mine eyes to see not rightly can I wise be called nor

00:16:16.900 forward seeing my wisdom is fled Sigurd spake no man grippier on earth I know who sees the

00:16:27.280 future as far as thou. Hide thou not, though hard it be, and base the deeds that I shall

00:16:34.400 do.

00:16:36.980 Grippier spake, With basest need, thy life is burdened, hero noble, hold not sure. Lofty

00:16:46.800 as long as the world shall live, battle-bringer thy name shall be.

00:16:54.000 Sigurd spake, naught could seem worse, but now must part, the prince and Sigurd, since

00:17:00.780 so it is, my road I ask, the future lies open, mighty one speak, my mother's brother.

00:17:09.440 Gripir spake, now to Sigurd all I shall say, for to this the warrior bends my will, thou

00:17:18.940 Thou knowest well that I will not lie.

00:17:21.920 A day there is when thy death is doomed.

00:17:26.540 Sigurd spake.

00:17:28.860 No scorn I know for the noble king. 0.85

00:17:32.300 But counsel good with Grippier I seek.

00:17:36.400 Well will I know, though evil awaits,

00:17:39.060 What Sigurd may before him see. 0.97

00:17:43.840 Grippier spake. 1.00

00:17:45.980 A maid in Hymir. 0.99

00:17:48.940 Home there dwells, Brynhild her name to men is known, Daughter of Boothly, the Daughty King, and Hymer Fosters, the Father of Fearless Mind.

00:18:02.160 Sigurd spake,

00:18:04.240 What is it to me, though the maiden be, so fair of an Hymer, fosterling is? 1.00

00:18:12.380 Grip your truth to me shall tell, for all of fate before me thou seest. 0.99

00:18:18.940 Grypyr spake, Of many a joy the maiden robs thee, 0.95

00:18:24.700 Fair to see whom Hymar is. 1.00

00:18:28.720 Sleep thou shalt fall in naught, Feud thou shalt end naught, 0.98

00:18:33.440 Nor seek out men if the maid thou seest not.

00:18:38.760 Sigurd spake, What may be had for Sigurd's healing?

00:18:43.880 Say now, Grypyr, if see thou canst.

00:18:47.700 May I buy the maid with the marriage-priced Of daughter-fair of the chieftain famed?"

00:18:55.020 Gripear spake.

00:18:57.800 Ye twain shalt see, All the oaths then swear, 0.95

00:19:03.800 That bindful fast few shall ye keep, One night with gookies guest thou shalt has-been,

00:19:12.140 The Heimer's fosterling fade from thy mind. 0.91

00:19:18.140 Sigurd spake, What sayest thou, Grippier, give me the truth?

00:19:23.380 This fickleness hide in the hero's heart? 1.00

00:19:25.760 Can it be that troth I break with the maid?

00:19:29.760 With her I believe thy love so dear?

00:19:33.900 Grippier spake, Tricked by another, Prince thou art,

00:19:39.100 And the price of Grimhild's wiles thou must pay, Fain of thee for the fair-haired maid.

00:19:46.440 Her daughter she is, and she drags thee down. 0.98

00:19:51.780 Sigurd spake, Might I with Gunnar kinship make,

00:19:56.480 And Guthrin win to be my wife, Will the hero wedded would be,

00:20:00.860 If my treacherous deed would trouble me not.

00:20:05.620 Grippier spake, Holy Grimmyr, thy heart deceives, she will bid thee go and Brynhild woo for Gunnar's wife, the lord of the Goths, and Prince's mother thy promise shall win.

00:20:24.640 Sigurd spake, Evil waits me, well I see it, and gone is Sigurd's good wisdom good. 0.76

00:20:32.060 For I shall woo for another to win

00:20:35.400 The maiden fair that so fondly I loved

00:20:38.120 Grippier spake

00:20:41.200 Ye three shall all the oaths then take

00:20:45.480 Gunnar and Hognian hero thou

00:20:48.140 Your forms ye shall change as forth ye tar

00:20:52.640 Gunnar and thou for Grippier lies not

00:20:56.340 Sigurd spake

00:20:59.820 How meanest thou? Why make we the change, if shape and form is forth we fare? 0.91

00:21:07.540 There must follow another falsehood, grim in all ways.

00:21:13.880 Speak on, Grippier. 0.85

00:21:17.320 Grippier spake, The form of Gunar, shape thou giddest,

00:21:23.760 but mind and voice thine own remain.

00:21:26.320 The hand of the fosterling, noble of Hymea

00:21:30.220 Now dost thou win, and none can prevent

00:21:33.820 Sigurd spake

00:21:37.020 Most evil it seems, and men will say 1.00

00:21:41.220 Base is Sigurd's, that so he did

00:21:44.540 Not of my will shall I cheat with wiles

00:21:48.480 The hero's maiden whom noblest I hold 0.98

00:21:53.180 Grippier spake

00:21:55.440 Thou know what dwellest, leader lofty of men 0.97

00:21:59.480 When the maid is of if

00:22:02.020 Thy mother she were 0.99

00:22:04.060 Lofty as long as the world shall live

00:22:07.020 Ruler of men, thy name shall remain

00:22:10.640 Sigurd spake

00:22:14.320 Shall Gunnar have a goodly wife 0.98

00:22:17.680 Famed among men 1.00

00:22:19.800 Speak forth now, Gripir 1.00

00:22:21.820 Although at my side 1.00

00:22:25.300 three nights she slept, 0.99

00:22:27.920 the warrior's bride,

00:22:30.440 such an air has been.

00:22:34.220 Grypyr spake,

00:22:35.640 the warrior draughts 0.81

00:22:37.420 will be drunk for both,

00:22:39.900 for Sigurd the Gunnar

00:22:41.260 and Gilkey's Hall.

00:22:43.860 Your forms ye change

00:22:45.740 when home ye fare,

00:22:48.040 but the mind of each to himself

00:22:49.680 remains.

00:22:52.520 Sigurd spake,

00:22:53.780 Shall the kinship new thereafter come to good among us? 0.93

00:22:59.520 Tell me, Grippier, to good or joy shall I later give her happiest sin for me myself. 0.87

00:23:07.600 Grippier spake,

00:23:10.080 Thine oaths remembering silent thou art and dwells with Guthrum in wedlock good.

00:23:15.920 But Brynhild shall deem she is badly mated 0.83

00:23:20.380 And wiles she seeks herself to avenge.

00:23:25.760 Sigurd spake,

00:23:28.080 What may for the bride require be 0.95

00:23:30.860 The wife we won with subtle wiles.

00:23:34.700 For me she has the oaths I made and kept not long.

00:23:38.920 They gladdened her little.

00:23:41.900 Grippier spake, 0.60

00:23:42.840 To Gunnar soon this bride will say, That ill didst thou thine own oath fulfill,

00:23:50.540 When the goodly king, the son of Gilkey, With all his heart the hero trusted.

00:23:56.540 Sigurd spake, What sayest thou, Grippier? Tell me the truth! 0.95

00:24:01.560 Am I guilty, so now is said, Or lies does the far-famed queen put forth of me and herself,

00:24:08.440 Yet further speak, Gripir spake, In wrath and grief full little good the noble bride shall work thee now. 0.91

00:24:19.800 No fame thou gavest the goodly one, Though the monarch's wife with wiles didst cheat.

00:24:28.120 Sigurd spake, Shogunar the wise to the woman's words, And Gothrum and Hogni thee he'd give.

00:24:35.520 Shall Googie's sons now tell me, Grippier 0.81

00:24:38.860 Redden their blades with their kinsmen's blood 0.99

00:24:42.220 Grippier spake

00:24:45.040 Heavy it lies on Guthrun's heart

00:24:48.260 When her brothers all shall bring thee death

00:24:51.200 Never again shall she see happiness, no

00:24:54.700 The woman so fared his grim hild's work

00:24:58.300 Sigurd spake

00:25:01.120 Now fare thee well, our fates we shut not 0.98

00:25:04.900 And well has Grippier answered my wish

00:25:07.780 More of joy to me wouldst tell

00:25:10.580 Of my life to come, if so thou couldst

00:25:13.000 Grippier spake 0.98

00:25:15.420 Ever remember, ruler of men

00:25:18.560 That fortune lies in the hero's life

00:25:21.680 A nobler man shall never live

00:25:24.260 Beneath the sun than Sigurd shall see

00:25:34.900 Thank you.

Asatru Folk Assembly - January 18, 2024

Grípisspá — Sigurðarkviða Fáfnisbana I, a reading

Episode Stats

Summary

Transcript