Swan Valkyries

Nidud was the name of a king among the Swedish people. He had two sons and one daughter. She was called Bodvild. There were three brothers, sons of the Lappish king. One was called Slagfid, the second Egil, the third Volund. They went on skis and hunted wild animals. They came to Wolfdale and there built themselves a house. There is a lake there called Wolf-lake. Early in the morning, they found three women on the lake-shore, and they were spinning linen. Near them were their swan’s garments; they were valkyries.* There were two daughters of King Hlodver—Hladgud the swan-white, and Hervor, the strange creature—the third was Olrun, the daughter of Kiar of Valland. They took them home to the hall with them. Egil took Olrun, and Slagfid Swanwhite [i.e. Hladgud], and Volund Strange-Creature [i.e. Hervor]. They lived together seven winters. Then the women flew off to go to battles and did not come back. Then Egil skied off to look for Olrun, and Slagfid went looking for Swanwhite, and Volund sat in Wolfdales. He was the most skilful of men, that men know of, in the ancient stories. King Nidud had him seized, as is told of here:

1 Girls flew from the south across Myrkwood,
strange, young creatures, to fulfil fate;
there on a lake shore they sat to rest,
the southern ladies spun precious linen.

2 One of them began to enclose Egil in her arms,
the fair living girl in bright embrace;
Another was Swanwhite, she wore swan feathers;
and the third, their sister,
wound her arms around Volund’s white neck.

3 They stayed thus for seven winters,
but all the eighth they suffered anguish,
and in the ninth necessity parted them;
the girls yearned for the dark wood,
the strange, young creatures, to fulfil fate.

4 Then came from hunting the weather-eyed shooter;*
Slagfid and Egil found the halls empty;
they went in and out and looked about.
Egil skied off east after Olrun,*
and Slagfid went south after Swanwhite.

5 But Volund sat alone in Wolfdales.
He struck red gold about a firm-set gem,
he closed up all the serpent-rings well;*
so he waited for his shining woman
if she were to make her way back to him.

6 Nidud heard, lord of the Niarar,
that Volund sat alone in Wolfdales.
By night men journeyed, their corslets studded,
their shields glinted in the waning moon.


- Poetic Edda, Volundarkvida