Theudho The Völsunga Saga 1. Varg í Veum Hér hefur upp og segir frá þeim manni er Sigi er nefndur og kallaður að héti son Óðins” (Here begins the tale, and tells of a man who was named Sigi, and called of men the son of Odin) That day death was in the air when the hunt came to an end as a slave defies the master Bredi fell under Sigi’s hands Soon the body was uncovered and Sigi was banished Led away by the father of all Victory always was on his side With sword in hand he claimed an empire And befathered a son named Rerir Varg í veum - Feel their envy Varg í veum - See, betrayal Varg í veum - Vengance Varg í veum - Claim the throne! I live for vengance and I will not rest until I’ve wiped out their betrayal with their vile blood Varg í veum - Wargus est! (Be a wolf!) Varg í veum - Son of Odin Varg í veum - Wargus est! Varg í veum - King and criminal 2. Völsung Much wealth won in war gat Rerir to himself, and wedded a wife withal, such as he deemed meet for him, and long they lived together, but had no child to take the heritage after them; and ill-content they both were with that, and prayed the Gods with heart and soul that they might get them a child.” The goddess Frigga granted an heir And sent Gna with an enchanted apple in the guise of a crow to Rerir, In due time, Völsung was born “Years passed and his parents deceased Yet Völsung grew into a strong man A bold and exemplary leader he was Many brave warriors he gathered around him” Under the imposing oak tree In the middle of his hall Völsung and his army drank To countless battles to come Ten sons were born to Völsung One fair daughter, Signy, as well Many suitors asked for her hand As did Siggeir, king of the Goths. 3. The Blade of Odin Siggeir hette en kung Han herskade över Gautland han var mäktig och hade mycket folk Han begav sig till kung Völsung och friade till Signy Kungen liksom hans söner upptog det väl men Signy själv var mycket ovillig” (There was a king called Siggeir, who ruled over Gothland, a mighty king and of many folk; he went to meet Volsung, the king, and prayed him for Signy his daughter to wife; and the king took his talk well, and his sons withal, but she was loth thereto.) While the festivities were in progress The entrance was suddenly darkened By a peculiar one-eyed man Who thrust a sword in Branstock “So sweet his speaking sounded, So wise his words did seem, That moveless all men sat there, As in a happy dream. And none would cast him a question Or follow on his ways For they knew that the gift was Odin’s, A sword for the world to praise” Sigmund, tenth and youngest son Triumphantly retrieved the sword Refusing to hand over the blade He awakened Siggeirs envy “Siggeir invited Völsung clan Only to cowardly ambush them Sigmund relinquished his sword Condemned to a cruel death … 4. Sinfjötli Sigmund and Signy vowed vengeance Therefore a pure Völsung was needed Exchanging forms with a fair witch She then sought out her brother’s hideout Unknowingly, Sigmund spent the night With a woman who was his sister Nine months later, she gave birth to a son Sinfjötli, the vessel of their revenge “The young Sinfjötli was deemed worthy by his mother and father One day Sigmund and Sinfjötli roamed through the vast woods They found two enchanted wolf-skins, which they both tried out Now in the guise of wolves, they slew all in their way” Einherjar … Wuotanaz Einherjar … Wuotanaz Einherjar … Wuotanaz Einherjar … Wuotanaz 5. Sigurd Sigmundarson Regin’s foster son Master of the runes Speaker of many tongues; Sigurd Sigmundarson In dire need of a horse He headed for the woods Where a long-bearded man Spoke the wisest words “Þessi hestur er kominn frá Sleipni og skal hann vandlega upp fæða því að hann verður hverjum hesti betri.“ (From Sleipnir's kin is this horse come, and he must be nourished heedfully, for it will be the best of all horses.) “So Sigurd called the horse Grani, the best of all the horses in the world; nor was the man he met other than Odin himself.” Now the mythic horse was his Descendant of Odin’s steed Young of years, great of growth No man had ever crossed his back The valiant Sigurd travelled To the hall of Regin It is there that he learned Of what lurked at Gnita-heath 6. Uttergälden (Loke) Vad är det för fisk som i floden ränner kan sig ej för fara frälsa? Lös du ditt huvud ur Hels våld skaffa mig guldets glans (Andvare) Andvare heter jag Oin hette min fader i mången fors jag har farit En olyckig norna i urtid bestämde att jag skulle i vattnet vada (Loke) Guld är dig nu givit och gäldat är dig mycket för mitt huvud 7. Gram Sigurd made a pledge To kill the dragon Fafnir For this very purpose Regin forges him a sword" "Out of fragments of Sigmunds blade Finally Gram was created Strong enough to cut through an anvil Destined to shed Fafnir’s blood 8. The Journey to Lyngvi Driven by thirst for revenge Sigurd and his men set sail They encountered a storm raised by withcraft; The work of the sons of Hunding “Hier op de schepen zijn Sigurd en ik de winden drijven ons voort in de dood de steile brekers besteigeren de boorden de zeehengsten zinken hoe heet de vrager?” (On the sea-trees sit young Sigurd's men, toward Hel bear us a heavy wind over stem and stern the storm-waves fall plunge the roller-horses: who is it asks?) “Hnikar hétu mig, þá er eg Hugin gladdi, Völsungr ungi, og vegið hafði. Nú máttu kalla karl af bjargi Feng eða Fjölni, far vil eg þiggja.” (Hnikar I hight, When I gladdened Huginn, And went to battle, Bright son of Volsung; Now may ye call The carl on the cliff top, Feng or Fjolnir: Fain would I with you.) Lyngvi fell under Sigurd’s sword A blood eagle carved on his back So he died in great valour Thus Sigmund was avenged 9. Fafnirs Blut In der Stunde vor Sonnenaufgang Legte Sigurd sich in eine Grübe Das Schwert Gram neben sich Kurz nach Morgengrauen Stieß Sigurd das Schwert In den Bauch des Ungeheuers fuhr! Drachenblut! Drachenblut! Er schnitt dem Kadaver das Herz aus dem Leib und spießte es auf einen Ast Er machte ein Feuer um das Herz zu braten Das Drachenherz besaß Wunderkräfte; Sigurd könnte die Vögel verstehen So vernahm er die grausame Wahrheit … Drachenblut! Drachenblut! (In the hour before dawn Sigurd hid in a trench The Sword Gram aside him Shortly after the morning came Sigurd thrust his sword in the stomach of the mostrosity! Dragon Blood! Dragon Blood! He cut the heart out of the corpse and put it on a stake He made a fire to roast the heart The dragon's heart possessed wonderous powers; Sigurd could understand birds So he learned the dreadful truth ... Dragon Blood! Dragon Blood! 10. Helreið Brynhildar How many times have you wiped blood of heroes from your hands? You brought death in our ranks Picked many comrades from our side Daughter of Budli Born in catastrophe Destroyer of Gjuki’s sons Breaker of the oath In the land of Goths You sent Gunnar down You gave Agnar victory And earned the wrath of Odin Imprisoned in Skatalund Surrounded by flames Awaiting that hero Bearer of Fafnir’s gold 11. Fall of the Niflungs 12. Gudrun's Revenge And so the vengeance of Gudrun was set in motion Two brothers, clad in armour Destined to kill! War-raiment that no steel would bite Blades nor spears would bring forth their end A secret shared by the god of war and death Assuring their place in the Hall of the Slain Jörmunrek’s limbs they did maim ‘til the Allfather appeared Advising to use stones To kill the brothers War-raiment that no steel would bite Blades nor spears would bring forth their end A secret shared by the god of war and death Assuring their place in the Hall of the Slain “Hlaðið ér, jarlar, eikiköstinn, látið þann und hilmi hæstan verða; megi brenna brjóst bölvafullt eldr, þrungit um hjarta þiðni sorgir.” (Now may all earls be bettered in mind, may the grief of all maidens ever be minished, for this tale of trouble so told to its ending.