Valkyrie Knowledge

Gripir was a son of Eylimi, Hiordis’s brother; he ruled over territories and was the wisest of all men, and could foresee the future. Sigurd was riding by himself and came to the hall of Gripir. Sigurd was easy to recognize. He met a man outside the hall and spoke to him. He said his name was Geitir. Then Sigurd addressed him and asked:

1 ‘Who lives here in these dwellings?
What do warriors call that mighty king?’
‘Gripir he is called, that leader of men,
he who rules over the well-secured land and the warriors.’

2 ‘Is the clever king at home in the land?
Will the prince come to speak with me?
An unknowing man needs to speak to him,
Quickly I’d like to meet Gripir.’

3 ‘The gracious king will ask Geitir
who that man might be who’d speak with Gripir.’
‘Sigurd I am called, son of Sigmund,
and Hiordis is the prince’s mother.’

4 Then Geitir went to say to Gripir:
‘Here is a man outside, an unknown man has come;
he is striking to look at;
he would like, lord, to meet you.’

5 The lord of men went out of the hall
and greeted warmly the prince who’d come:
‘Welcome here, Sigurd, you should have come before now!
And you, Geitir, look after Grani!’

6 They began to speak and they discussed many things,
there where they met, the sagacious men.
‘Tell me if you know, uncle,
how life will turn out for Sigurd.’

[...]

14 ‘Still you must, high-minded hero,
in thoughtful conversation say more to the lord;
I am Giuki’s guest, and I go away from there;
what more will be in my life?’

15 ‘A prince’s daughter, bright in her mail-shirt,
sleeps on the mountain after the killing of Helgi;*
you must strike with your sharp sword,
slit the mail-shirt with Fafnir’s slayer.’

16 ‘The mail-shirt is sliced open, the girl begins to speak,
when the woman woke from sleep;
what will the lady wish to say to Sigurd,
which will bring good fortune to the fighter?’

17 ‘Runes she’ll relate to you, the mighty man,
all those which men wish to know,
and how to speak every single human tongue,
medicine with healing knowledge; and now farewell, king!’

18 ‘Now that’s over, the wisdom is won,
and I’m ready to ride from there;
ponder my course and speak at more length;
what more will be in my life?’

19 ‘You will come to the dwellings of Heimir
and be a cheerful guest of the king;
that is done, Sigurd, what I knew already;
you should not question Gripir any further!’


- Poetic Edda, Gripisspa


("the killing of Helgi: this seems to link Sigrdrifa/Brynhild with Sigrun. She represents another variant of the ‘valkyrie bride’ motif; as in the Poem of Helgi Hiorvardsson and the Second Poem of Helgi Hundingsbani, marriage with the valkyrie ultimately causes the hero’s death, though in the story of Sigurd it is the Valkyrie herself who brings it about. The prose after v. 4 of the Lay of Sigrdrifa records that it was the death of a certain Helmet-Gunnar which prompted Odin to banish Sigrdrifa to the mountain top." - from the Explanatory Notes section included with the translation)