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Poetic Edda · heroic poems

Hamðismál

The Lay of Hamdir

Bellows's introduction

The Hamthesmol, the concluding poem in the Codex Regius, is on the whole the worst preserved of all the poems in the collection. The origin of the story, the relation of the Hamthesmol to the Guthrunarhvot, and of both poems to the hypothetical "old" Hamthesmol, are outlined in the introductory note to the Guthrunarhvot. The Hamthesmol as we have it is certainly not the "old" poem of that name; indeed it is so pronounced a patchwork that it can hardly be regarded as a coherent poem at all. Some of the stanzas are in Fornyrthislag, some are in Malahattr, one (stanza 29) appears to be in Ljothahattr, and in many cases the words can be adapted to any known metrical form only by liberal emendation. That any one should have deliberately composed such a poem seems quite incredible, and it is far more likely that some eleventh century narrator constructed a poem about the death of Hamther and Sorli by piecing together various fragments, and possibly adding a number of Malahattr stanzas of his own.

It has been argued, and with apparently sound logic, that our extant Hamthesmol originated in Greenland, along with the Atlamol. In any case, it can hardly have been put together before the latter part of the eleventh century, although the "old" Hamthesmol undoubtedly long antedates this period. Many editors have attempted to pick out the parts of the extant poem which were borrowed from this older lay, but the condition of the text is such that it is by no means clear even what stanzas are in Fornyrthislag and what in Malahattr. Many editors, likewise, indicate gaps and omissions, but it seems doubtful whether the extant Hamthesmol ever had a really consecutive quality, its component fragments having apparently been strung together with little regard for continuity. The notes indicate some of the more important editorial suggestions, but make no attempt to cover all of them, and the metrical form of the translation is often based on mere guesswork as to the character of the original lines and stanzas. Despite the chaotic state of the text, however, the underlying narrative is reasonably clear, and the story can be followed with no great difficulty.

1

Great the evilsonce that grew,With the dawning sadof the sorrow of elves;In early mornawake for menThe evils that griefto each shall bring.

Note

This stanza looks like a later interpolation from a totally unrelated source. Sorrow of elves: the sun; cf. Alvissmol, 16 and note.

2

Not now, nor yetof yesterday was it,Long the timethat since hath lapsed,So that little there isthat is half as old,Since Guthrun, daughterof Gjuki, whettedHer sons so youngto Svanhild's vengeance.

Note

Some editors regard lines 1-2 as interpolated, while others question line 3. Guthrun, etc.: regarding the marriage of Jonak and Guthrun (daughter of Gjuki, sister of Gunnar and Hogni, and widow first of Sigurth and then of Atli), and the sons of this marriage, Hamther and Sorli (but not Erp), cf. Guthrunarhvot, introductory prose and note.

Cited on Hamðir and Sörli

3

"The sister ye hadwas Svanhild called,And her did Jormunrektrample with horses,White and blackon the battle-way,Gray, road-wonted,the steeds of the Goths.

Note

Svanhild and Jormunrek: regarding the manner in which Jormunrek (Ermanarich) married Svanhild, daughter of Sigurth and Guthrun, and afterwards had her trodden to death by horses, cf. Guthrunarhvot, introductory note. Lines 3-4 are identical with lines 5-6 of Guthrunarhvot, 2.

Cited on Svanhildr

4

"Little the kingsof the folk are ye like,For now ye are livingalone of my race.

Note

These two lines may be all that is left of a four-line stanza. The manuscript and many editions combine them with stanza 5, while a few place them after stanza 5 as a separate stanza, reversing the order of the two lines. Kings of the folk: Guthrun's brothers, Gunnar and Hogni, slain by Atli.

5

"Lonely am Ias the forest aspen,Of kindred bareas the fir of its boughs,My joys are all lostas the leaves of the treeWhen the scather of twigsfrom the warm day turns."

Note

Cf. note on stanza 4; the manuscript does not indicate line 1 as beginning a stanza. Scather of twigs: poetic circumlocution for the wind (cf. Skaldskaparmal, chapter 27), though some editors think the phrase here means the sun. Some editors assume a more or less extensive gap between stanzas 5 and 6.

6

Then Hamther spake forth,the high of heart:"Small praise didst thou, Guthrun,to Hogni's deed giveWhen they wakened thy Sigurthfrom out of his sleep,Thou didst sit on the bedwhile his slayers laughed.

Note

Lines 1-3 are nearly identical with lines 1-3 of Guthrunarhvot, 4. On the death of Sigurth cf. Sigurtharkvitha en skamma, 21-24, and Brot, concluding prose. The word thy in line 3 is omitted in the original.

Cited on Hamðir and Sörli, Högni

7

"Thy bed-covers whitewith blood were redFrom his wounds, and with goreof thy husband were wet;So Sigurth was slain,by his corpse didst thou sit,And of gladness didst think not:'twas Gunnar's doing.

Note

Lines 1-2 are nearly identical with lines 4-5 of Guthrunarhvot, 4. The manuscript, followed by many editions, indicates line 3 and not line 1 as beginning a stanza.

Cited on Högni, Sigurðr

8

"Thou wouldst strike at Atliby the slaying of ErpAnd the killing of Eitil;thine own grief was worse;So should each one wieldthe wound-biting swordThat another it slaysbut smites not himself."

Note

Some editors regard this stanza as interpolated. Erp and Eitil: regarding Guthrun's slaying of her sons by Atli, cf. Atlamol, 72-75. The Erp here referred to is not to be confused with the Erp, son of Jonak, who appears in stanza 13. The whole of stanza 8 is in doubtful shape, and many emendations have been suggested.

9

Then did Sorli speak out,for wise was he ever:"With my mother I nevera quarrel will make;Full little in speakingmethinks ye both lack;What askest thou, Guthrun,that will give thee no tears?

Cited on Hamðir and Sörli

10

"For thy brothers dost weep,and thy boys so sweet,Thy kinsmen in birthon the battlefield slain;Now, Guthrun, as wellfor us both shalt thou weep,We sit doomed on our steeds,and far hence shall we die."

Note

Some editors assign this speech to Hamther. Brothers: Gunnar and Hogni. Boys: Erp and Eitil.

11

Then the fame-glad one—on the steps she was—The slender-fingered,spake with her son:"Ye shall danger haveif counsel ye heed not;..............By two heroes aloneshall two hundred of GothsBe bound or be slainin the lofty-walled burg."

Note

In the manuscript this stanza follows stanza 21, and some editors take the word here rendered "fame-glad one" (hróþrglǫþ) to be a proper name (Jormunrek's mother or his concubine). The Volsungasaga, however, indicates that Guthrun at this point "had so fashioned their war-gear that iron would not bite into it, and she bade them to have nought to do with stones or other heavy things, and told them that it would be ill for them if they did not do as she said." The substance of this counsel may well have been conveyed in a passage lost after line 3, though the manuscript indicates no gap. It is by being stoned that Hamther and Sorli are killed (stanza 26). On the other hand, the second part of line 3 may possibly mean "if silent ye are not," in which case the advice relates to Hamther's speech to Jormunrek and Sorli's reproach to him thereupon (stanzas 25 and 27). Steps: the word in the original is doubtful. Line 3 is thoroughly obscure. Some editors make a separate stanza of lines 3-5, while others question line 5.

12

From the courtyard they fared,and fury they breathed;The youths swiftly wento'er the mountain wet,On their Hunnish steeds,death's vengeance to have.

Note

Many editors assume the loss of a line after line 1. In several editions lines 2-3 are placed after line 2 of stanza 18. Hunnish: the word meant little more than "German"; cf. Guthrunarhvot, 3 and note.

13

On the way they foundthe man so wise;.............."What help from the weaklingbrown may we have?"

Note

In the manuscript these two lines follow stanza 16; some editors insert them in place of lines 2-3 of stanza 11. The manuscript indicates no gap. The man so wise: Erp, here represented as a son of Jonak but not of Guthrun, and hence a half-brother of Hamther and Sorli. There is nothing further to indicate whether or not he was born out of wedlock, as intimated in stanza 16. Some editors assign line 3 to Hamther, and some to Sorli.

Cited on Hamðir and Sörli

14

So answered themtheir half-brother then:"So well may Imy kinsmen aidAs help one footfrom the other has."

Note

The stanza is obviously defective. Many editors add Erp's name in line 1, and insert between lines 2 and 3 a line based on stanza 15 and the Volsungasaga paraphrase: "As a flesh-grown hand another helps." In the Volsungasaga, after Erp's death, Hamther stumbles and saves himself from falling with his hand, whereupon he says: "Erp spake truly; I had fallen had I not braced myself with my hand." Soon thereafter Sorli has a like experience, one foot slipping but the other saving him from a fall. "Then they said that they had done ill to Erp, their brother."

Cited on Hamðir and Sörli

15

"How may a footits fellow aid,Or a flesh-grown handanother help?"

Note

Many editions attach these two lines to stanza 14, while a few assume the loss of two lines.

16

Then Erp spake forth,his words were few,As haughty he saton his horse's back:"To the timid 'tis illthe way to tell."A bastard theythe bold one called.

Note

In the manuscript this stanza stands between stanzas 12 and 13. Some editors make line 4 a part of Erp's speech.

Cited on Guðrún, Hamðir and Sörli

17

From their sheaths they drewtheir shining swords,Their blades, to the giantessjoy to give;By a third they lessenedthe might that was theirs,The fighter youngto earth they felled.

Note

The manuscript does not indicate line 1 as beginning a stanza. The giantess: presumably the reference is to Hel, goddess of the dead, but the phrase is doubtful.

18

Their cloaks they shook,their swords they sheathed,The high-born menwrapped their mantles close.

Note

In the manuscript these two lines are followed by stanza 19 with no indication of a break. Some editions insert here lines 2-3 of stanza 12, while others assume the loss of two or more lines.

19

On their road they faredand an ill way found,And their sister's sonon a tree they saw,On the wind-cold wolf-treewest of the hall,And cranes'-bait crawled;none would care to linger.

Note

Cf. note on stanza 18. Ill way: very likely the road leading through the gate of Jormunrek's town at which Svanhild was trampled to death. Sister's son: many editors change the text to read "stepson," for the reference is certainly to Randver, son of Jormunrek, hanged by his father on Bikki's advice (cf. Guthrunarhvot, introductory note). Wolf-tree: the gallows, the wolf being symbolical of outlaws. Cranes'-bait: presumably either snakes or worms, but the passage is doubtful.

Cited on Hamðir and Sörli

20

In the hall was din,the men drank deep,And the horses' hoofscould no one hear,Till the warrior hardysounded his horn.

Note

Many editors assume the loss of a line after line 3. The warrior: presumably a warder or watchman, but the reference may be to Hamther himself.

21

Men came and the taleto Jormunrek toldHow warriors helmedwithout they beheld:"Take counsel wise,for brave ones are come,Of mighty menthou the sister didst murder."

Note

The word here rendered men (line 1) is missing in the original, involving a metrical error, and various words have been suggested.

Cited on Jörmunrekkr

22

Then Jormunrek laughed,his hand laid on his beard,His arms, for with winehe was warlike, he called for;He shook his brown locks,on his white shield he looked,And raised high the cupof gold in his hand.

Note

Line 2 in the original is thoroughly obscure; some editors directly reverse the meaning here indicated by giving the line a negative force, while others completely alter the phrase rendered "his arms he called for" into one meaning "he stroked his cheeks."

Cited on Hamðir and Sörli, Jörmunrekkr

23

"Happy, methinks,were I to beholdHamther and Sorlihere in my hall;The men would I bindwith strings of bows,And Gjuki's heirson the gallows hang."

Note

Gjuki's heirs: the original has "the well-born of Gjuki," and some editors have changed the proper name to Guthrun, but the phrase apparently refers to Hamther and Sorli as Gjuki's grandsons. In the manuscript this stanza is followed by stanza 11, and such editors as have retained this arrangement have had to resort to varied and complex explanations to account for it.

Cited on Jörmunrekkr

24

In the hall was clamor,the cups were shattered,Men stood in bloodfrom the breasts of the Goths.

Note

Editors have made various efforts to reconstruct a four-line stanza out of these two lines, in some cases with the help of lines borrowed from the puzzling stanza 11 (cf. note on stanza 23). Line 2 in the original is doubtful.

25

Then did Hamther speak forth,the haughty of heart:"Thou soughtest, Jormunrek,us to see,Sons of one motherseeking thy dwelling;Thou seest thy hands,thy feet thou beholdest,Jormunrek, flungin the fire so hot."

Note

Some editors mark line 1 as an interpolation. The manuscript marks line 4 as beginning a new stanza. As in the story told by Jordanes, Hamther and Sorli succeed in wounding Jormunrek (here they cut off his hands and feet), but do not kill him.

Cited on Hamðir and Sörli

26

Then roared the king,of the race of the gods,Bold in his armor,as roars a bear:"Stone ye the menthat steel will bite not,Sword nor spear,the sons of Jonak."

Note

The manuscript marks line 3, and not line 1, as beginning a stanza. Of the race of the gods: the reference here is apparently to Jormunrek, but in the Volsungasaga the advice to kill Hamther and Sorli with stones, since iron will not wound them (cf. note on stanza 11), comes from Othin, who enters the hall as an old man with one eye.

Cited on Hamðir and Sörli, Jörmunrekkr

27

Sorli spake:"Ill didst win, brother,when the bag thou didst open,Oft from that bagcame baleful counsel;Heart hast thou, Hamther,if knowledge thou hadst!A man without wisdomis lacking in much."

Note

In the manuscript this stanza is introduced by the same line as stanza 25: "Then did Hamther speak forth, the haughty of heart," but the speaker in this case must be Sorli and not Hamther. Some editors, however, give lines 1-2 to Hamther and lines 3-4 to Sorli. Bag: i.e., Hamther's mouth; cf. note on stanza 11. The manuscript indicates line 3 as beginning a new stanza.

28

Hamther spake:"His head were now offif Erp were living,The brother so keenwhom we killed on our road,The warrior noble,—'twas the Norns that drove meThe hero to slaywho in fight should be holy.

Note

Most editors regard stanzas 28-30 as a speech by Hamther, but the manuscript does not indicate the speaker, and some editors assign one or two of the stanzas to Sorli. Lines 1-2 are quoted in the Volsungasaga. The manuscript does not indicate line 1 as beginning a stanza. Erp: Hamther means that while the two brothers had succeeded only in wounding Jormunrek, Erp, if he had been with them, would have killed him. Lines 3-4 may be a later interpolation. Norns: the fates; the word used in the original means the goddess of ill fortune.

Cited on Hamðir and Sörli

29

"In fashion of wolvesit befits us notAmongst ourselves to strive,Like the hounds of the Norns,that nourished wereIn greed mid wastes so grim.

Note

This is almost certainly an interpolated Ljothahattr stanza, though some editors have tried to expand it into the Fornyrthislag form. Hounds of the Norns: wolves.

30

"We have greatly fought,o'er the Goths do we standBy our blades laid low,like eagles on branches;Great our fame though we dietoday or tomorrow;None outlives the nightwhen the Norns have spoken."

Note

Some editors assume a gap after this stanza.

Cited on Hamðir and Sörli, The Norns

31

Then Sorli besidethe gable sank,And Hamther fellat the back of the house.

Note

Apparently a fragment of a stanza from the "old" Hamthesmol to which the annotator's concluding prose note refers. Some editors assume the loss of two lines after line 2.

Cited on Hamðir and Sörli

This is called the old ballad of Hamther.

Note

Prose. Regarding the "old" Hamthesmol, cf. Guthrunarhvot, introductory note.