Asatru Folk Assembly - Sigurðarkviða Hin Skamma, a reading

00:00:00.000 Sigurd Ark Vitha in Skaan

00:00:24.000 The Short Lay of Sigurd

00:00:28.000 Guthron Arkvitha I is immediately followed in the Codex Regius by a long poem which in the manuscript bears the heading Sigrth Arkvitha, but which is clearly referred to in the prose link between it and Guthron Arkvitha I as the short lay of Sigrth.

00:00:49.520 The discrepancy between this reference and the obvious length of the poem has led to

00:00:56.480 many conjectures, but the explanation seems to be that the long Sigurðle, of which the

00:01:03.880 Brot is presumably a part, was materially longer even than this poem.

00:01:11.640 The efforts to reduce the short Sigurðle to dimensions which would justify the appellation

00:01:19.420 in comparison to other poems in the collection, either by separating it into two poems or

00:01:26.240 by the rejection of many stanzas as interpolations, have been utterly inconclusive.

00:01:35.860 Although there are probably several interpolated passages, and indications of omissions are

00:01:42.940 not lacking, the poem as we now have it seems to be a distinct and coherent unit. From the

00:01:51.120 narrative point of view it leaves a good deal to be desired, for the reasons that the poet's

00:01:57.060 object was by no means to tell a story with which his hearers were quite familiar, but

00:02:04.340 to use the narrative simply as the background for vivid and powerful characterization. The

00:02:11.820 The lyric element, as Malk puts out, overshadows the epic throughout, and the fact that there

00:02:19.940 are frequent confusions of narrative tradition does not trouble the poet at all.

00:02:27.700 The material on which the poem was based seems to have existed in both prose and verse form.

00:02:35.220 The poet was almost certainly familiar with some of the other poems in the edit collection,

00:02:41.060 with poems which have since been lost, and with narrative prose traditions which never

00:02:47.040 fully assume verse form.

00:02:50.880 The fact that he seems to have known and used the Odrunagrater, which can hardly have been

00:02:57.780 composed before 1050, and that in any case he introduces the figure of Odrun, a relatively

00:03:05.560 The late addition to the story dates the poem as late as the end of the 11th century or

00:03:12.800 even the first half of the 12th.

00:03:16.120 There has been much discussion as to where it was composed, the debate centering chiefly

00:03:22.800 on the reference to Glaciers .

00:03:26.800 There is something to be said in favor of Greenland as the original home of the poem.

00:03:33.520 See introductory note to Atlokvitha, but the arguments for Iceland are even stronger.

00:03:42.880 Norway in this case is practically out of the question.

00:03:48.900 The narrative features of the poem are based on the German rather than the Norse settlements

00:03:55.060 of the story.

00:03:56.820 the introductory note to Gripispa, but the poet has taken whatever material he wanted

00:04:03.640 without much discrimination as to its source. By the year 1100, the story of Sigurd, with

00:04:12.060 its allied legends, existed throughout the Norse, in many and varied forms, and the poem

00:04:20.220 slowly traces variants of the main story, which do not appear elsewhere.

00:04:29.460 Sigurð Arkvitha Hinskama

00:04:32.720 Of old did Sigurð Gjöcki seek the Volsung young in battle's victor. 0.64

00:04:41.100 Well, he trusted the brothers twain, with mighty oaths among them sworn, a maid they

00:04:48.540 they gave him and jewels many, Guthrun the young, the daughter of Gyuki.

00:04:55.140 They drank and spake for many a day, Sigurth the young and Gyuki's sons.

00:05:03.360 Thereafter went they, Brynhild to woo, and so with them did Sigurth ride. 0.89

00:05:10.760 The Volsung young in battle valiance himself would have had her if all he had seen. 0.99

00:05:17.640 The southern hero his naked sword Fair flashing let between them lie, 0.98

00:05:24.360 Nor would he come the maid to kiss. 0.97

00:05:27.880 The hunnish king in his arms ne'er held The maiden he gave to Gyuki's sons. 0.91

00:05:35.880 Ill she had known not in all her life, And not of the sorrows of men she knew. 0.85

00:05:43.580 Dream she had not, nor dream she could bear it, But cruel the fates that among them came.

00:05:51.320 By herself at the end of day she sat, And in open words her heart she uttered,

00:05:58.460 I shall Sigurd have the hero young, In, then, within my arms he dies.

00:06:07.340 The word I have spoken, soon shall I rue it.

00:06:11.720 His wife is Guthryn, and Gunnar's am I.

00:06:15.400 Irnorn set for me long desire.

00:06:20.780 Off did she go with grieving heart, On the glacier's ice at eventide,

00:06:27.100 When Guthryn then to her bed was gone, And the bedclothes Sigurth about her laid. 0.93

00:06:34.880 Now Gyuki's child to her lover goes, And the hunnish king with his wife is happy. 0.93

00:06:42.280 Joyless am I in the maidless ever, Till cries for my heavy heart burst forth. 1.00

00:06:49.920 In her wrath to battle she aroused herself, Good are now, thou needs must loose,

00:06:56.680 Lands of mine and me myself, No joy shall I have with the hero ever.

00:07:03.120 Back shall I fare where first I dwelt, Among the kin that come of my race,

00:07:09.840 To wait there, sleeping my life away, If Sigurd's death thou shalt not dare,

00:07:16.380 And best of heroes thou shalt not be.

00:07:20.320 The sun shall fare with his father hence, And let not long the wolf cub live,

00:07:28.000 lighter to pay is the vengeance price and the deed if the son is dead sad was gunnar and bowed with

00:07:38.000 grief deep in thought the whole day through yet from his heart if was ever hid what deed most

00:07:46.480 fitting he should find or what thing best for him should be or if he should seek the volsung to slay

00:07:54.720 For with mighty longing Sigurd he loved.

00:07:59.820 Much he pondered for many an hour, Never before was the wonder known,

00:08:05.640 That a queen should thus her kingdom leave, In council then did he hogni call,

00:08:12.160 For him in truest trust he held.

00:08:16.220 More than all to me is Brennhild, Brutli's child the best of women,

00:08:23.200 My very life would I sooner lose Than yield the love of yonder maid. 0.81

00:08:32.140 Wilt thou the hero for wealth betray, Twere good to have the gold of the Rhine,

00:08:39.300 And all the horde in peace to hold, And waiting fortune thus to win?

00:08:48.200 the words of Hogniwar. Us, it beseems, not so to do, to cleave with swords the oaths

00:08:59.120 we swore, the oaths we swore in all our vows. We know no mightier men on earth, the while

00:09:10.760 we four o'er the folks hold sway. And while the hunnish hero lives, no higher kinship 0.92

00:09:21.000 the world doth hold. If sons we five shall soon beget, great, methinks, our race shall

00:09:30.980 grow, while I see whence lead the ways. To bitter far is Prenhild's hate.

00:09:44.100 Gunnar spake, Gothon to Wrath, we needs must rouse, our younger brother in rashness blind.

00:09:53.380 He entered not in the oaths we swore

00:09:56.740 The oaths we swore in all our vows

00:10:00.080 It was easy to rouse the reckless one

00:10:04.600 The sword in the heart of Sigurd stood

00:10:07.800 In vengeance the hero rose in the hall

00:10:12.000 And hurled his sword at the slayer bold

00:10:14.840 At Gothorn flew the glittering steer

00:10:18.700 Of Gram full heart from the hand of the king

00:10:22.620 The foaming cleft asunder fell, forward hands and head did sink, and legs and feet did backwards

00:10:33.280 fall.

00:10:34.280 Guthrun soft in her bed had slept, safe from care at Sigurd's side.

00:10:43.380 She woke to find her joy had fled, in the blood of the friend of Freyr she lay.

00:10:51.560 So hard she smote her hands together, That the hero rose up iron-hearted.

00:10:58.320 Weep not, Guthrun, grievous tears, Bride so young, for thy brothers live.

00:11:07.260 Too young, methinks, is my son as yet, He cannot flee from the home of his foes.

00:11:15.440 Fearful and deadly, the plan they found, The council knew that now they have heeded.

00:11:23.680 No sun will ride, though seven thou hast, To the same as the sun of their sister rides.

00:11:32.280 While I see who the ill has worked, On Brynhild alone lies the blame for all.

00:11:40.060 Above all men the maiden loved me, Yet false to Gunnar I ne'er was found.

00:11:47.300 I kept the oaths and the kinship I swore, Of his queen, the lover, none may call me.

00:11:55.180 In a swoon she sank when Sigurd died, So hard she smote her hands together,

00:12:01.900 That all the cups in the cupboard rang, And loud in the courtyard cried the geese.

00:12:09.340 Then Brynhir, daughter of Boorthy, laughed Only once with all her heart.

00:12:16.240 When as she lay, for loud she heard The grievous wear of Gielki's daughter.

00:12:23.900 Then Gunnar, monarch of men, spake forth, Thou dost not laugh, thou lover of hate, 0.61

00:12:32.000 And gladness there over aught of good.

00:12:35.960 Why is thy face so white a hue, Mother of ill, for doomed thou art? 0.97

00:12:42.760 A worthier woman wist thou have been, If before thine eyes we had utterly slain, 0.98

00:12:51.200 If thy brother's bleeding body hast seen, And the bloody wounds that thou shist end?

00:12:59.580 For Inhalid spake, None mock me thee, Gunnar, Thou hast mightily fought,

00:13:08.080 But thy hatred little dotatly heed, Longer than thou, methinks, shall he live,

00:13:15.640 And greater in might shall he ever remain.

00:13:19.580 To thee I say, and thyself thou knowest, That all these ills thou didst early shape,

00:13:26.920 No bonds I knew, nor sorrow bore, And wealth I had from them my brother's home. 1.00

00:13:35.480 Never a husband sought I to have, Before the gyukings fared to our land. 0.99

00:13:42.780 Three were the kings on steeds that came, Near the journey never there was. 1.00

00:13:49.220 To the hero great my trough I gave, Who gold-deck sat on granny's back, 0.92

00:13:56.360 Not like to shine was the light of his eyes, Nor like in form and face are ye. 0.96

00:14:03.880 Though kingly both ye seemed to be, And so to me did Arthi say, 0.90

00:14:09.740 That share in our wealth I should have had. 0.97

00:14:14.020 Of gold our land, if my hand I gave not, More evil yet the wealth I should yield.

00:14:22.200 The gold that he in my childhood gave me, The wealth from him in my youth I had.

00:14:29.980 Often my mind I pondered much, If still I should fight and warriors fell,

00:14:36.240 Brave in my barney, my brother defying, That would wide in the world be known,

00:14:42.380 And sorrow for many a man would take.

00:14:46.140 But the bond at last I let be made, For more the horde I longed to have,

00:14:52.740 To the rings that the son of Sigmund won, No other's treasure e'er I sought.

00:15:00.400 One alone of all I loved, Nor a changing heart I ever had,

00:15:06.020 All in the end shall aptly know, When he hears I have gone on the death-road hence.

00:15:14.200 Were a wife of fickle will, Yet to another man should yield,

00:15:19.640 So vengeance for all my ills shall come.

00:15:24.200 Up rose Gunnar, the people's ruler, And slung his arms round her neck so fair,

00:15:31.160 And all who came of every kind Sought to hold her with all their hearts.

00:15:37.840 With box she cast, and all those came, Nor from the long road let them hold her.

00:15:44.480 In counsel then did he Hogni call, Of wisdom full great is our need.

00:15:51.520 Let the warriors here in the hall come forth, Thine and mine, for the need is mighty.

00:15:58.560 If haply the queen from death they may hold, Till her fearful thoughts with time shall

00:16:05.160 fade. Few the words of Hogni were, From the long road now shall ye hold her not,

00:16:16.000 that born again she may be never. Foul she came from her mother forth, and born she was 0.97

00:16:26.280 As for wicked deeds, sorrow, to many a man to bring.

00:16:32.000 From the speaker gloomily Gunnar turned, for the jewel-bearer her gems were dividing.

00:16:40.960 Of all her wealth her eyes were gazing on the bond-woman slain and the slaughterer-slaves.

00:16:48.900 Her burning of gold she donned, and grim was her heart e'er the point of her sword had

00:16:55.360 pierced it. On the pillow at last her head she laid, and wounded her plan she pondered

00:17:02.840 over. Hither I will let my women come, who gold 1.00

00:17:11.680 are fain from me to get, necklaces fashioned fair to catch, shall I give and clothe the 0.99

00:17:21.100 Honourments bright.

00:17:24.860 Silent were all's as she saith bake, And all together answer made, 0.96

00:17:32.980 Slain are enough we seek to live, That thus thy women shall honour win. 1.00

00:17:41.820 Long the women, linen decked, pondered, Young she was, and waited her words. 1.00

00:17:50.620 For my sake now shall none unwilling or loath to die 0.88

00:17:55.380 Her life lay down, but little of gems to gleam on your limbs.

00:18:02.180 Ye then shall find when forth ye fare 0.84

00:18:06.460 To follow me, or of Minya's wealth. 0.95

00:18:12.540 Sit now, Gunnar, for I shall speak 0.59

00:18:15.920 Of thy bride so fair and so fain to die,

00:18:19.940 Thy ship in harbor, home thou hast not, Although my life I now have lost.

00:18:28.040 Thou shalt gooth-room requite, More requite, quick than thou thinkest.

00:18:36.460 Thou sadly mourns the maiden-wise, Who dwells with the king or her husband dead.

00:18:45.340 A maid shall then, the mother bear, Brighter far than the fairest day.

00:18:54.780 Svanhild shall be o'er the beams of the sun, Guthrun a noble husband thou givest, 0.85

00:19:03.760 Yet to many a warrior, woe will she bring, Not happily wedded she holds herself.

00:19:12.940 shall aptly hither seek Boothly's son and brother of mine.

00:19:21.160 Well I remember how me ye treated, when ye betrayed me with treacherous wiles.

00:19:29.460 Lost was my joy as long as I lived.

00:19:34.420 Odrun his wife thou fain wouldst win, and aughty this from thee withholds, yet in secret

00:19:42.160 triest, ye twain shall love, she shall hold thee dear as I had done, if kindly fate to

00:19:50.560 us hath fallen, ill thee shall atli bring, when he cast thee down in the din of snakes,

00:20:00.740 but soon thereafter atli too, his life methinks as thou shalt lose, his future forged and

00:20:09.640 lose, and the lives of his sons, him shall Guthrum, grim of heart, with a biting blade

00:20:17.580 in his bed, destroy.

00:20:20.340 It would better be seen thy sister fair, to follow her husband first in death, if counsel 0.54

00:20:27.220 good to her were given, or a heart akin to mine she had.

00:20:33.000 Slowly I speak, but for my sake her life methinks

00:20:40.100 She shall not lose, she shall wander over 0.95

00:20:45.020 The tossing waves toward Yonok rules her father's realm 0.97

00:20:52.760 Sons to him she soon shall bear 0.96

00:20:56.440 Heirs therewith of Yonok's wealth 0.75

00:20:59.400 But Svaden heared, far away ascent, The child she bowed her to Sigurd's brave. 0.64

00:21:09.920 Bicky's word her death shall be, For dreadful the wrath of Jormann Rick,

00:21:16.280 So slain is all of Sigurd's race, And greater the woe of Guthrun grows.

00:21:23.440 Yet one boon, I beg of thee, The last of boons in my life it is,

00:21:28.980 Let the pyre be built so broad in the field that the room for us all will ample be for 0.99

00:21:35.980 us who slain with sigretar. 1.00

00:21:40.300 With shields and carpets cover the pyre, shrouds full fair and fallen slaves, and besides the 0.72

00:21:47.920 hunish hero burn me, beside the hunish hero there, slaves shall burn full bravely decked

00:21:57.660 Two at once, his head, and two at his feet, A brace of hounds and a pair of hawks, 0.89

00:22:06.520 For so shall all be seemly done.

00:22:10.700 Yet between us lie once more, The steel so keen as so it lay,

00:22:17.420 When both within one bed were born, And wedded mates by men were called.

00:22:26.160 The door of the hall shall strike not the heel, Of the hero fair with flashing rings.

00:22:34.880 If hence my following goes with him, Not mean or faring, forth shall be.

00:22:43.480 Bond women five shall follow him, And eight of my thralls well-born are they.

00:22:50.900 Children with me and mine they are, As gifts that Boothley his daughter gave.

00:22:58.600 Much have I told thee, and more would say, If fate more space for speech had given.

00:23:07.500 My voice grows weak, my wounds are swelling, Truth had I said, and so I died.

00:23:20.900 Thank you.

Asatru Folk Assembly - January 26, 2024

Sigurðarkviða Hin Skamma, a reading

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