Helgi's Victory

47 They allowed Svipud and Sveggiud*
to run powerfully to Solheim,
over the dew-sprinkled dales, the dark slopes,
the valkyrie’s airy sea trembled where the kinsmen passed.

48 They met the excellent prince at the courtyard-door,
they said with excitement that the lord had come;
Hodbrodd stepped forward, wearing his helmet,
he pondered his kinsmen riding towards him:
‘Why do the Niflungs look so troubled?’

49 ‘They’ve beached on the sand swift ships,
harts of mast-rings, long rowlocks,
many shields, smooth-planed oars,
the king’s splendid troop, the cheerful Ylfings.

50 ‘Fifteen companies came on shore;
yet out in Sogn there are seven thousand,
pulled up by the palisade before Gnipalund,
dark-coloured surf-beasts all decked with gold.
By far the most of their mighty host is there.
Helgi will not delay the meeting of swords.’

51 ‘Let the bridled horses gallop to the main assembly-places;
Spurwolf ride to Sparins-heath,
Melnir and Mylnir to Myrkwood,
let no man linger behind,
those who know how to brandish wound-flames.*

52 ‘Summon Hogni and the sons of Hring,
Atli and Yngvi, Alf the old;
they are eager to advance to war,
let’s offer the Volsungs some resistance!’

53 There was only the flickering—as they came together—
of pale spear-points at Frekastein;
always was Helgi, slayer of Hunding,
foremost in the host, where men were fighting,
eager in the battle, extremely averse to flight;
that prince had a hard acorn of a heart.

54 Helmeted valkyries came down from the sky
—the noise of spears grew loud—those who protected the
prince;
then said Sigrun—the wound-giving valkyries flew,
the troll-woman’s mount was feasting on raven-fodder:*

55 ‘Unscathed, prince, you’ll unleash men,
upholder of Yngvi’s line, and enjoy your life,
since you have brought low the king who scorns flight,
the one who dealt death to the dread-bringing man.

56 ‘And it’s fitting, lord, that you should have
both red-gold rings and the powerful girl;
unscathed, lord, you’ll enjoy both
Hogni’s daughter and Hringstadir,
lands and victory; now the battle is over.’


- Poetic Edda, Helgakviða Hundingsbana I