Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar, a reading
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Harmful content
Misogyny
8
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Toxicity
10
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Hate speech
31
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Summary
The origin of the Herky tradition, its connection with that of Sigurd, the authorship, date, and home of the poems, the degree to which they have been altered from their original forms, the status of the composer of the copious prose notes, and many other allied questions have been matters of dispute among the students of the Edda.
Transcript
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The three Hergiles, all found in the Codex Regius, have been the subjects of a vast amount of discussion, in spite of which many of the facts regarding them are still very far from settled.
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It is indeed scarcely possible to make an unqualified statement regarding these three poems, for which a flat contradiction cannot be found in the writings of some scholar of distinction.
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The origin of the Herky tradition, its connection with that of Sigurd, the authorship, date,
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and home of the poems, the degree to which they have been altered from their original
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forms, the status of the composer of the copious prose notes, these and many other allied questions
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have been and probably always will be matters of dispute among the students of the Edda's
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Without attempting to enter into the discussion in detail, certain theories should be noted.
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Hergillais appears originally to have been a Danish popular hero, the son of King Hofton.
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Saxo Grammaticus has a good deal to say about him in that capacity, and it has been pointed
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out that many of the place names in the Hergillais can be pretty clearly identified with parts
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of Denmark and neighboring stretches of the Baltic.
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The Danish Hervgi, according to Saxo, was famous as the conqueror of Hunding and Hothbrod,
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the latter as the result of a naval expedition at the head of a considerable fleet.
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From Denmark, the story appears to have spread northward into Norway, and westward into Norse
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Not many of its original features remained, and new ones were added here and there, particularly
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with regard to Helgi's love affair with Sigrun. The victories over Hunding and Hofbrot, however,
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were generally retained, and out of material relating to these two fights and to the Helgi-Sigrun
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story were fashioned the two ladies of Helgi Hundingsbein. Now, how the Helgi legend became
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involved with that of the Wolsungs is an open question. Both stories traveled from the south,
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and presumably about the same time, so it is not unnatural that some confusion should
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have arisen. At no time, however, was the connection particularly close so far as the
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actual episodes of the two stories were concerned. In the two leys of Helgi Hundingsbane, the
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relationship is established only by the statement that Helgi was the son of Sigmund and Borgild.
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Sigurd is not mentioned, and in the leys of Helgi, the son of Fjordervarth, there is
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On the other hand, Helgi does not appear in any of the Edic poems dealing directly with
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the Volsung stories, although in one passage of doubtful authenticity ,
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his traditional enemy Hunding does represent it by his sons.
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In the Volsung saga, the story of Helgi includes the fight with Hunding and Hothbrod, and the
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love affair with Sigrun, is told in chapters 8 and 9, without otherwise affecting the course
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of the narrative. Here, as in the Helgi-les, Helgi is the son of Sigmund Vilsenksson and
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Borghild. Sigurd, on the other hand, is the son of Sigmund and Hjordis, the latter being
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the daughter of King Eilimi. Still another son, who complicates both stories somewhat,
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is Sinfjortli, son of Sigmund and his own sister, Signy. Sinfjortli appears in both
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the Helgi-Hundingsbeinleys and in the Volsinger saga, but not in any of the etic poems belonging
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to the Volsing cycle . There is a certain amount of resemblance between
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the story of Helgi and Sigrun and that of Sigurd and Brunhild, particularly as the annotator
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responsible for the post-notes, insists that Sigrun was a Valkyrie. Whether this resemblance
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was the cause of bringing the two stories together, or whether the identification of
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Hergi as Sigrun's son resulted in alterations of the love story in the Hergi poems cannot
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The first of the three Hergi poems, the lay of Hergi, the son of Fjordvarth, is a somewhat
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distant cousin of the other two. The Hergi in question is apparently the same traditional
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figure, and he leads a naval expedition, but he is not the son of Sigmund, there is no
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connection with the Volksstern cycle, and his wife, Svava, not Sigmund.
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At the same time, the points of general resemblance with the two Helgi Hundingsbeinleys are such
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as to indicate a common origin, provided one goes back far enough.
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The annotator brings the stories together by the naïve expedient of having Helgi born
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The first Helge Le is manifestly in bad shape, and includes at least two distinct poems,
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differentiated not only by subject matter, but by metrical form.
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Although the question is debatable, the longer these poems, stanzas 1-11 and 31-43, seems
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to turn to have been compounded out of fragments of two or more Helge poems.
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The first five stanzas are a dialogue between a Byrd and Otli, one of Hjordovar's followers,
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concerning the winning of Sigrun, who is destined to be Hjordovar's wife and Hedvigy's mother.
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Stanzas 6-11 are a dialogue between Hedvigy and a Valkradi, the accompanying prose so
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calls her and identifies her as Vava, but there is nothing in the verse to prove this.
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Stanzas 12-30 form a fairly consecutive unit, in which Otli, on guard over Helgi's ship,
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has a vigorous argument with the giantess, Hremgirth, whence this section has sometimes
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The last section, stanzas 31-43, is again fairly consecutive, and tells the death of
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of Hervgi, following the rash oath of his brother Hetan to win Zvava for himself.
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Parts 1, 2, and 4 may all come from the same poem, or they may not. It is quite impossible
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to tell, surely. All of them are generally dated by commentators not later than the first
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half of the 10th century, whereas the Hremgerðrmar is placed considerably later. When and by
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whom these fragments were pieced together is another vexed question, and this involves
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a consideration of the prose notes and links of which the Herakavita, Hjordovartasona,
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has a larger amount than any other poem in the era. These prose links contain practically
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all the narrative, the verse being almost exclusively dialogue. Whoever composed them
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seems to have been consciously trying to bring his chaotic verse material into some semblance
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of unity, but he did his work pretty clumsily, with manifest blunders and contradictions.
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Bughe has advanced the theory that these prose passages are to be regarded as an original
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and necessary part of the work, but this hardly squares with the evidence.
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It seems probable, rather, that the Hedwig tradition spread from its native Denmark
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through the Norse regions of the north and west and became gradually interwoven,
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although not in essentials, with the other great hero cycles from the south that are
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the Folslings. A considerable number of poems dealing with Hedrgi were composed at different
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times and in different places, reflecting varied forms of the story. Many generations
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afterwards, when Iceland's literary period had arrived, some zealous scribe committed
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to writing such poems or fragments of poems as he knew, piecing them together and annotating
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them on the basis of information which has reached them through other channels.
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The prose notes to Helge Kvitha Hundingsbana II frankly omits this patchwork process.
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A section of four stanzas is introduced with the phrase, as is said in the Old Wollsungle.
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The final prose note cites an incident, told in Carlius, and a two-line speech is quoted,
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The whole problem of the origin, character, and home of the Helge poems
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has been discussed in great detail by Buhlg in his Helge Dichten I den Adre Edda
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which was translated by W. H. Schofield under the title The Home of the Eddic Poems,
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This study is exceedingly valuable, if not in all respects convincing.
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The whole matter is so complex and so important in the history of Old Norse literature,
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and any intelligent reading of the Helgi poems is so dependent on understanding the conditions under which they have come down to us,
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that I have here discussed the question more extensively than the scope of a mere introductory note to a single poem was warned.
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Hjolvart was the name of a king who had four wives.
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One was called Alfild, and their son was named Hethan.
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The second was called Sareth, and their son was named Humlunk.
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The third was called Sineroth, and their son was named Himling.
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King Kilroth had made a great vow to have as wife whatsoever woman he knew was fairest.
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He learned that King Svafnir had a daughter fairer than all others, whose name was Sigurlin.
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He had a son called Atli, who went to woo Sigurlin on behalf of the king.
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There was a Jarl called Thranmar, Sigurlin's foster-father.
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The Jarl told him that the maiden's hand was denied, and Atli went home.
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Atli, the Jarl's son, stood one day in a certain wood, a bird set up in the branches
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over him, and it had heard that his men called Hyoror's wives the fairest of women.
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The bird twittered, and at the harkened to what it spoke.
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Saist thou Sigilen Swafnir's daughter, the fairest maid in her homeland found?
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Though your arse wives by men are hailed goodly to see in glaciers wood.
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Now with Otley, Ithwun's son, wilt thou say more, thou bird so wise?
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I may, if a prince an offering makes, and I have what I will from the house of the king.
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Utley spake, Choose not your wrath, nor sons of his, nor the wives so fair of the famous
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Ask not the brides that the princes are, fair let us deal in friendly wise.
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The bird spake, Of fame thou will I ask, and alters many.
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If Sigrid yet shall sleep in his arms, so free will the hero shall follow.
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But when he came home, when the king asked his tidings, he said,
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Our horses felled in the mountains high, the waters of Seymourne we my need must wade.
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Lafner's daughter with rings bedecked, she whom he sought, was still denied us.
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The king bade that they should go another time, and he went with them himself.
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But when they came up on the mountain, they saw Svavavon burning in mighty dust clouds from many steeds.
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The king rode from the mountains forward into the land, and made a night stay hard by a stream.
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A great bird sat on the housetop to guard it, but he was asleep.
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And in the house he found Sigrun, the king's daughter, and Eloth, the Jarl's daughter.
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Jarl Franmar had charged himself into the likeness of an eagle
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rachmar was the name of a king a wooer of sigilin he slew the king of swathaland and plundered and burned his land king shorvarth took sigilin and ali took alaf
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part two and sigilin had a son mighty and of noble stature he was a silent man and no name stuck fast to him
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He sat on a hill, and saw nine Valkyries riding.
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She spake, Late wilt thou, Helgi, have horn of rings.
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The eagle screams soon, if thou never speakest.
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Valkyrie spake, What shall a gift I have with Helgi's name,
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All thy words shall I think unwell, But I want them not, if I win not thee.
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The Valkyrie spake, Swords I know lying in Sigur's home.
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One there is, that is best of all, The shield destroyer.
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In the hilt his fame, in the haft his courage, In the point his fear for its owner's foes.
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On the blade there lies a blood-flexed snake, And a serpent's tail round the flaps is twisted.
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Elimi was the name of a king whose daughter was Svava.
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She gave Helgi this name, and shielded him off thereafter in battle.
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Helgi spake, Hjørvarth, king unwholesome thy counsels,
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Thou famed thou art in leading the folk, Letting fire the homes of heroes eat,
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Whom evil deed had never done thee, Yet Rathmar still horde doth hold,
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Hjordvarth answered that he would give Helgi a following if he feign would avenge his mother's
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Then Helgi got the sword that Zvava had told him of.
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So he went and atli with him, and they slew Rathmar, and they did many great deeds.
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He slew the giant Hati, whom he found was sitting on a certain mountain.
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Helgi and Atli lay with their ships in Hattafjord.
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Atli kept watch during the first part of the night.
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Otley spake, Helgi his name, and never thou mayst
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With iron is fitted the prince's fleet, Nor can witch's work us ill.
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Hermgurth spake, Now who, thou mighty man, art thou?
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I trust thee well, the prince who is, that thou stand at the stem of his ship.
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Oft have I been in the dripping bows, and to dust-griders death have brought.
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Do, art thou, Atli, thou dreamest me, thanks.
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Thou wust, nay, Atli, beguilded thou art, see Rimgirth hoists her tale.
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In thy hinderin is thy heart, methinks, though thy speech is a stallion's cry.
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Atli spake, A stallion, I seem, if thou cease to try me,
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And I leap to land from the sea, I shall smite thee to bits, if so I will,
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Rymgurth spake, Go ashore then, Atli, if sure of thy might
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Straight shall thy rounded ribs be made, If thou comest within my claws.
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Otli spake, I will not go till the warriors wake,
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again their chief to guard, I should wonder not if thou witch, if up from beneath our
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Hremgirth spake, Awake now, Helgi, and Hremgirth requite, that Haiti to death thou hast due.
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If a single night she could sleep by the prince, then requited are all her ills.
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Hergi spake, "'Tis loathen shall have thee, Thou art loathsome to men.
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His home in Tholi he has, Of the wild dwellers west is the giant wise,
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Rimgirth spake, "'More thou lovest her, Who scanned the harbour,
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The gold-decked maid bore magic, methinks.
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When the land from the sea she sought, and fast she kept her fleet.
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She alone is to blame that I may not bring death to the monarch's men.
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Was there one who the ships of the warrior warded?
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Rimgirth spake, Thrice nine there were but one road first,
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Their horses quivered, there came from their manes,
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Hail on the woods so high, thence men their harvest have,
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Last, eastward Remgerth, for Helgi has struck thee.
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Down with the runes of death, safe in harbor floats.
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The princes fleets, and safe are the monarch's men.
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He came to King Aileni and sought the hand of his daughter Svava.
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Then Helgi and Svava exchanged vows, and greatly they loved each other.
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Svava was at home with her father while Helgi was in the field.
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Hethan was at home with his father, King Kjørvarth, in Norway.
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Hethan was coming home alone with the forest one, Yule Eve, and found a troll woman.
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She rode on a wolf and had snakes in the place of a bridle.
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He said, Thou shalt pity for this as the king's toast.
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That evening the great vows were taken, the sacred boar was brought in, the men laid their
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hands thereon, and took their vows as the king's toast.
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Hethan vowed that he would have Svava, Ilemi's daughter, the beloved of his brother Helgi.
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Then such grief seized him, and he went forth on wild paths southward over the land, and
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What hast thou to tell of tidings new that from Norway come?
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Wherefore didst leave thy land, O prince, and far alone to find us here?
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Hethin spake, A deed more evil had I come done.
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And brother mine thou e'er canst mend, For I have come the child of a king,
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Helgi spake, Grieve not, heaven, for truth shall hold
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Where shall I come the third night hence, and doubtful must be my coming back?
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Thou said once, Helgi, that Hethan was a friendful good, and gifts didst give him.
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More seemly it were, that soared to Reden, than friendship thus to thy foe to give.
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He spoke thus, because he foresaw his death, for his following spirits had met Hetham,
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Avth was the name of a king, the son of Rathmar, who had marked out a battle-place with Helgi
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On a wolf that rode, when dusk it was, a woman who fain would have him follow.
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Well she knew that now would fall Sigurlin's son at Sigur's vol.
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There was a great battle, and there Helgi got a mortal wound.
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Sigur riding did Helgi send to seek out Alimi's only daughter.
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her swiftly ready to be if her lover alive she would find sigur spake hither now has helgi sent
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me with thee zvava thyself to speak the hero said he fain would see thee ere life the nobly born should
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Zvava spake, What chance would Helgi Hjurvar's son?
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If the sea smote him, a sword bit him, Ill shall I bring to all his foes.
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Sigur spake, In the morning he fell at Frekastein,
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a king who was the noblest beneath the sun. Ulf has the joy of victory all, though need
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Hail to thee, Svavvumb, thy sorrow rule! Our meeting lasts in life is this. Hard the wounds
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of the hero bleed and close to my heart the sword has come i bid thee svava weep not bride if thou
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wilt hearken to these my words the bed for heathen have thou ready and yield thy love to the hero young
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Svava spake. A vow I had in my dear loved home, when Helgi sought with rings to have me.
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That's not of my will if the warrior died, would I fold in my arms a man unfeigned.
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Kiss me, Svava. I came not back. They're all kind to see.
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and Rathul's Fjol, to vengeance I have for the son of Fjolvarth,
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Of Hergi and Svava it is said that they were born again.