1. Gripir was the name of Eylimi's son, the brother of Hjordis; he ruled over lands and was of all men the wisest and most forward-seeing. Sigurth once was riding alone and came to Gripir's hall. Sigurth was easy to recognize; he found out in front of the hall a man whose name was Geitir. Then Sigurth questioned him and asked:

2. "Who is it has this dwelling here, Or what do men call the people's king?"

3. Geitir: "Gripir the name of the chieftain good Who holds the folk and the firm-ruled land."

4. Sigurth: "Is the king all-knowing now within, Will the monarch come with me to speak? A man unknown his counsel needs, And Gripir fain I soon would find."

5. Geitir: "The ruler glad of Geitir will ask Who seeks with Gripir speech to have."

6. Sigurth: "Sigurth am I, and Sigmund's son, And Hjordis the name of the hero's mother."

7. Then Geitir went and to Gripir spake: "A stranger comes and stands without; Lofty he is to look upon, And, prince, thyself he fain would see."

8. From the hall the ruler of heroes went,

9. And greeted well the warrior come: "Sigurth, welcome long since had been thine; Now, Geitir, shalt thou Grani take."

10. Then of many things they talked, When thus the men so wise had met.

11. Sigurth: "To me, if thou knowest, my mother's brother, Say what life will Sigurth's be."

12. Gripir: "Of men thou shalt be on earth the mightiest, And higher famed than all the heroes; Free of gold-giving, slow to flee, Noble to see, and sage in speech."

13. Sigurth: "Monarch wise, now more I ask; To Sigurth say, if thou thinkest to see, What first will chance of my fortune fair, When hence I go from out thy home?"

14. Gripir: "First shalt thou, prince, thy father avenge, And Eylimi, their ills requiting;

15. The hardy sons of Hunding thou Soon shalt fell, and victory find."

16. Sigurth: "Noble king, my kinsman, say Thy meaning true, for our minds we speak: For Sigurth mighty deeds dost see, The highest beneath the heavens all?"

17. Gripir: IT. "The fiery dragon alone thou shalt fight That greedy lies at Gnitaheith; Thou shalt be of Regin and Fafnir both The slayer; truth doth Gripir tell thee."

18. Sigurth: "Rich shall I be if battles I win With such as these, as now thou sayest; Forward look, and further tell: What the life that I shall lead?"

19. Gripir: "Fafnir's den thou then shalt find, And all his treasure fair shalt take;

20. Gold shalt heap on Grani's back, And, proved in fight, to Gjuki fare."

21. Sigurth: "To the warrior now in words. so wise, Monarch noble, more shalt tell; I am Gjuki's guest, and thence I go: What the life that I shall lead?"

22. Gripir: "On the rocks there sleeps the ruler's daughter, Fair in armor, since Helgi fell; Thou shalt cut with keen-edged sword, And cleave the byrnie with Fafnir's killer."

23. Sigurth: "The mail-coat is broken, the maiden speaks, The woman who from sleep has wakened; What says the maid to Sigurth then That happy fate to the hero brings?"

24. Gripir: "Runes to the warrior will she tell, All that men may ever seek, And teach thee to speak in all men's tongues, And life with health; thou'rt happy, king!"

25. Sigurth: "Now is it ended, the knowledge is won, And ready I am forth thence to ride; Forward look and further tell: What the life that I shall lead?"

38 more verses…