1. "Sawest thou Sigrlin, Svafnir's daughter, The fairest maid in her home-land found? Though Hjorvath's wives by men are held Goodly to see in Glasir's wood."

2. Atli: "Now with Atli, Ithmund's son, Wilt thou say more, thou bird so wise?"

3. The bird: "I may if the prince an offering makes, And I have what I will from the house of the king."

4. Atli: "Choose not Hjorvarth, nor sons of his, Nor the wives so fair of the famous chief; Ask not the brides that the prince's are; Fair let us deal in friendly wise."

5. The bird: "A fane will I ask, and altars many, Gold-horned cattle the prince shall give me, If Sigrlin yet shall sleep in his arms, Or free of will the hero shall follow."

6. This was before Atli went on his journey; but when he came home, and the king asked his tidings, he said:

7. "Trouble we had, but tidings none, Our horses failed in the mountains high, The waters of Saemorn we needs must wade; Svafnir's daughter, with rings bedecked, She whom we sought, was still denied us."

8. The king bade that they should go another time, and he went with them himself, But when they came up on the mountain, they saw Svavaland burning and mighty dust-clouds from many steeds. The king rode from the mountain forward into the land, and made a night's stay hard by a stream. Atli kept watch and went over the stream; he found there a house. A great bird sat on the housetop to guard it, but he was asleep. Atli hurled his spear at the bird and slew it, and in the house he found Sigrlin the king's daughter and Alof the jarl's daughter, and he brought them both thence with him. Jarl Franmar had changed himself into the likeness of an eagle, and guarded them from the enemy host by magic. Hrothmar was the name of a king, a wooer of Sigrlin; he slew the

9. king of Svavaland and had plundered and burned his land. King Hjorvarth took Sigrlin, and Atli took Alof.

10. Hjorvarth and Sigrlin had a son, mighty and of noble stature; he was a silent man, and no name stuck fast to him. He sat on a hill, and saw nine Valkyries riding; one of them was the fairest of all. She spake:

11. "Late wilt thou, Helgi, have hoard of rings, Thou battle-tree fierce, or of shining fields,— The eagle screams soon,— if never thou speakest, Though, hero, hard thy heart may cry."

12. Helgi: "What gift shall I have with Helgi's name, Glorious maid, for the giving is thine?

13. All thy words shall I think on well, But I want them not if I win not thee."

14. The Valkyrie: "Swords I know lying in Sigarsholm, Fifty there are save only four; One there is that is best of all, The shield-destroyer, with gold it shines.

15. "In the hilt is fame, in the haft is courage, In the point is fear, for its owner's foes; On the blade there lies a blood-flecked snake, And a serpent's tail round the flat is twisted."

16. Eylimi was the name of a king, whose daughter was Svava; she was a Valkyrie, and rode air and sea. She gave Helgi this name, and shielded him oft thereafter in battle. Helgi spake:

17. "Hjorvarth, king, unwholesome thy counsels, Though famed thou art in leading the folk,

18. Letting fire the homes of heroes eat, Who evil deed had never done thee.

19. "Yet Hrothmar still the hoard doth hold, The wealth that once our kinsmen wielded; Full seldom care the king disturbs, Heir to dead men he deems himself."

20. Hjorvarth answered that he would give Helgi a following if he fain would avenge his mother's father. Then Helgi got the sword that Svava had told him of. So he went, and Atli with him, and they slew Hrothmar, and they did many great deeds.

21. He slew the giant Hati, whom he found sitting on a certain mountain. Helgi and Atli lay with their ships in Hatafjord. Atli kept watch during the first part of the night. Hrimgerth, Hati's daughter, spake:

22. "Who are the heroes in Hatafjord? The ships are covered with shields;

23. Bravely ye look, and little ye fear, The name of the king would I know."

24. Atli: "Helgi his name, and never thou mayst Harm to the hero bring; With iron is fitted the prince's fleet, Nor can witches work us ill."

25. Hrimgerth: "Who now, thou mighty man, art thou? By what name art thou known to men? He trusts thee well, the prince who wills That thou stand at the stem of his ship."

41 more verses…