Hnikar's Advice

King Hialprek gave Sigurd a ship’s crew to avenge his father. They ran into a great storm and were weathering a certain rocky headland. There was a man standing on the cliff who said:

16 ‘Who is riding there the sea-king’s horses
on the high waves, on the resounding sea?
The sail-steeds are spattered with spray,
the ocean-chargers cannot stand up to the wind.’

Regin answered:
17 ‘Sigurd is here with us on these sea-trees;
given a wind which will be our death;
the steep breaker is falling higher than stern and prow,
the roller-steeds are plunging; who is asking about it?’

18 ‘Hnikar they called me, when young Volsung*
gladdened the raven when there was fighting;
now you may call the old man on the cliff
Feng or Fiolnir; I would like passage!’

They turned towards the land, and the old man went aboard the ship, and the tempest abated.

19 ‘Tell me, Hnikar, you know all about two matters:
omens of gods and men,
which omens are best, if one has to fight
when swords are swinging?’

Hnikar said:
20 ‘There are many good omens if men knew them,
when swords are swinging;
a trusty companion for the warrior, I believe,
is the dark raven.

21 ‘That is a second omen, if you have gone outside
and are ready to set off;
if you see standing on the pathway
two men eager for glory.

22 ‘That is a third omen, if you hear a wolf
howling under ash-branches,
good luck will be ordained for you against the warriors
if you catch sight of them first.

23 ‘No man should fight facing into the late-shining
sister of the moon;*
those who can see get the victory,
those who urge sword-play
and know how to draw up a wedge-shaped battle-array.*

24 ‘That is great misfortune, if you stumble
when you advance towards battle;
guileful disir stand on both sides of you*
and want to see you wounded.

25 ‘Combed and washed every thoughtful man should be
and fed in the morning;
for one cannot foresee where one will be by evening;
it is bad to rush headlong before an omen.’

Sigurd fought a great battle against Lyngvi, son of Hunding, and his brothers. There Lyngvi and his three brothers were killed. After the battle Regin said:

26 ‘Now a bloody eagle is carved on the back*
of Sigmund’s slayer with a sharp sword!
No one’s more successful than the heir of the king,
who reddened the earth and gave joy to the raven!’

Sigurd went home to Hialprek. Then Regin egged Sigurd on to kill Fafnir.


- Poetic Edda, Reginsmal


("Hnikar they called me: Odin in disguise has come to Sigurd’s rescue; Volsunga saga, ch. 17, tells of Odin’s continuing patronage of the Volsungs." - from the Explanatory Notes section included with the translation)