Runes Volsunga

Brynhild filled a cup and gave it to Sigurđ, and then she said:

“I bring you beer,
warrior,
blended with strength
and fame.
It’s full of spells
and magic,
good enchantments
and happy words.

“You should carve victory-runes
if you want to have victory.
Carve some on the hilt of your sword,
carve some on the middle of the blade also,
some elsewhere on the sword,
and name Týr twice.

“You should make wave-runes
if you want to save ships
out on the wild water.
You should carve them on the ship’s bow
and on the steering-rudder,
and burn them into the oars.

Then there won’t be any steep wave,
there won’t be any blue waves,
that you won’t escape from safely.

“You should learn speech-runes
to prevent those who hate you
from taking vengeance on you.
Wind them around,
weave them around,
set them all around,
at the court
where people go
for judgments.

“You should learn beer-runes
if you don’t want another man’s wife
to abuse your trust if you have a tryst.
Carve them on the drinking-horn
and on the back of your hand,
and carve the rune for ‘N’ on your fingernail.

“You should bless the drinking-horn;
then watch out for trouble
and throw garlic in the drink.
If you do this, I know
you’ll never drink mead
that’s blended with a curse.

“You should learn life-saving runes
if you want to save a woman’s life
when she is in the throes of childbirth.
Carve them on your palm,
and clasp them around your limbs,
and pray to your family spirits for help.

“You should learn limb-runes
if you want to be a healer
and learn how to heal wounds.
Carve them on bark,
carve them on the needles of a pine
that bends eastward.

“You should learn mind-runes
if you want to be wiser
than any other man.
Óđin read them,
Óđin carved them,
Óđin thought them up.

“Runes were carved on the shield
that stood before the shining sun,
on the ears and hooves
of the horses that draw the sun,
on the wheel
of the chariot of Thór,
on the reins of Sleipnir,
on the reins of his sled.

“They were carved on a bear’s paw
and a poet’s tongue,
on a wolf’s claws
and an eagle’s beak,
on bloody wings
and a bridge’s beams,
on a helper’s palm
and a healer’s footprint.

“They were carved on glass
and gold, on treasures,
in wine and in beer
and a witch’s chair,
in a man’s flesh
and Óđin’s spearpoint
and a troll-woman’s breast,
on a Norn’s fingernail
and the beak of an owl.

“All of them that were carved
were then shaved off,
and they were stirred into the holy mead
and sent far away.
Some are with the Æsir,
some are with the elves,
some are with the Vanir,
and mortal men have some.

“The beechtree-runes
and life-saving runes
and all the beer-runes
and the famous strength-runes
will be of good use
for everyone who knows them
completely and correctly.
Use them, if you know them,
till the gods die.

“Now you must choose
from the options you are offered,
you lord of sharp weapons.
Choose to speak,
or choose to remain silent:
Your fate is already decided.”

Sigurđ responded:

“I will never flee,
even if you know I am doomed to die.
I was not born a coward.
I want to have
all of your loving advice,
as long as I live.”


- Volsunga Saga, Chapter 20