Following the poems about the gods, the first three heroic poems in the Poetic Edda concern Helgi, a hero who is reincarnated at least twice (according to the poems themselves). In one of these poems he is the son of Hjorvarth, and in the other two the son of Sigmund. It is possible that both Helgi characters stem from one common traditional hero, and that we are dealing with different versions of the same original story that have become so divergent from one another that a later editor inserted the reincarnation of the hero to explain why he is said to be the son of two different men in different poems.
In the Codex Regius, the order of these three poems is different than what is given here (the order in the manuscript is Helgakvitha Hundingsbana I, then Helgakvitha Hjorvarthssonar, then Helgakvitha Hundingsbana II). However, since Helgi Hjorvarthsson is a different Helgi than Helgi Sigmundsson in the other two, I have moved Helgakvitha Hjorvarthssonar to the front in order to keep the two poems about Helgi Sigmundsson together.
Helgakvitha Hjorvarthssonar is a difficult poem: it probably consists of several fragments of poetic dialogue pieced together by a later editor, and then connected by means of explanatory prose sections between them. A short summary will be needed to help orient the reader.
The first part of the poem (including st. 1–5 and the large amount of prose surrounding them) concerns not Helgi himself but his father King Hjorvarth, and his follower Atli. Hjorvarth sends Atli to ask for the hand of Sigerlinn, daughter of King Svafnir, after a bird informs Atli that Sigerlinn is the most beautiful woman in the world. The marriage proposal is refused, which prompts Hjorvarth to travel with Atli to make his case in person. However, upon reaching Svafnir’s kingdom, they find that he has already been killed by his rival King Hrothmar. Hjorvarth marries Sigerlinn.
Hjorvarth and Sigerlinn have a son, and for many years they are unable to give him a name. But the boy encounters a troop of Valkyries led by Svava, who gives him the name Helgi and gives him directions to find a special sword. Helgi then leads an army to defeat King Hrothmar (who had killed King Svafnir) with the aid of Atli. Helgi and Atli also kill a giant, and there is an unusual exchange between Atli and the giant’s daughter Hrimgerth; this takes up stanzas 12–23. Helgi joins the exchange of insults in stanzas 24–30, where we learn that Svava and her Valkyries have protected Helgi from having his ships destroyed by Hrimgerth. Helgi and Atli keep Hrimgerth talking till the sun rises and turns her to stone (the same trick Thor uses against the dwarf in Alvissmal).
Helgi and Svava promise to marry one another, but Svava continues to live with her father. Later, Helgi’s half-brother Hethin is away from home when he meets a troll-woman and he refuses to let her accompany him. She tells him that he will pay for this at the upcoming feast when oaths are sworn. At this feast, her promise is fulfilled when Hethin swears he will take Helgi’s fiancée Svava for himself, but he regrets his oath and wanders in the wilderness.
Helgi eventually encounters Hethin, who tells him about his oath. Helgi assures him that this is for the best, since he has been challenged to a duel by King Alf (son of his old enemy King Hrothmar). Helgi expects he will die in this duel, in which case it would please him to know that his beloved will be in the care of his brother Hethin.
Helgi is mortally wounded in the duel, and sends for Svava. Helgi begs her to marry his brother Hethin in his stead, but she says she will keep her promise to love no man but Helgi. The poem ends with Hethin swearing to Svava that he will not return home before he has avenged Helgi’s death.
Concerning Hjorvarth and Sigerlinn
A king was named Hjorvarth; he had four wives. One was named Alfhild, and their son was named Hethin. The second was named Saereith, and their son was named Humlung. The third was named Sinrjoth, and their son was named Hymling.
King Hjorvarth had sworn an oath to marry the most beautiful woman he saw. He learned that King Svafnir had a daughter who was most beautiful of all, named Sigerlinn. King Hjorvarth had a man at his court named Ithmund, and Ithmund’s son Atli went to ask for Sigerlinn’s hand in marriage to King Hjorvarth. Atli stayed the whole winter with King Svafnir. King Svafnir had an important follower named Franmar, and he was the foster-father of Sigerlinn. Franmar had a daughter named Alof. Franmar told Atli that the girl would not be married to King Hjorvarth, and then Atli rode away.
Atli stood one day in a grove, and he heard a bird sitting in the tree branches above him; the bird had heard Atli’s men say that there was no woman more beautiful than King Hjorvarth’s wives. The bird called, and Atli listened to what it said.
The bird said:
“DID YOU SEE SIGERLINN, Svafnir’s daughter, the most beautiful woman in the entire world? She’s more beautiful than Hjorvarth’s wives, though they seem beautiful enough to the men at Glasislund.”
Atli said:
“Will you say more to Atli, son of Ithmund, you wise-remembering bird?”
The bird said:
“I would—if you, young man,
would give me a sacrifice.
I’ll choose what I want
from the king’s household.”
Atli said:
“Don’t choose Hjorvarth, nor his sons, nor the king’s lovely brides, the wives of King Hjorvarth. But we’ll make a good deal; that’s the way of friends.”
The bird said:
“I will choose a temple, many altars, and golden-horned cows from the king’s household, if what I say brings Sigerlinn to sleep in his arms, if that woman marries him of her free will.”
This was before Atli’s journey to King Svafnir. When Atli came home, King Hjorvarth asked him his news, and Atli said:
“We had trouble, the errand was not accomplished. We wore out our horses on the high mountains, and then we had to wade the river Saemorn. And then Svafnir’s ring-decked daughter, the girl we went there to get, was denied to us.”
King Hjorvarth asked them to go a second time, and he went along himself this time. And when they went up on a mountain, they saw wildfires burning in Svavaland, and they saw huge clouds of dust kicked up by horses’ hooves. Then the king rode down from the mountain and spent the night by a river. Atli stood on guard, and he went over the river. There he found a house. A large bird sat on the house and kept watch, but it had fallen asleep. Atli threw a spear at the bird and killed it.
In the house, Atli found Sigerlinn, the daughter of King Svafnir, and Alof, the daughter of Jarl Franmar, and he took them away from there.
Hrothmar, another king who had courted Sigerlinn, had killed King Svafnir and then burned and robbed the country. Jarl Franmar had turned himself into an eagle, and he had been guarding the women with his magic.
King Hjorvarth married Sigerlinn, and Atli married Alof.
Hjorvarth and Sigerlinn had a big, handsome son. He was quiet, and no name suited him for long.
One day the boy sat on a mound, and he saw nine Valkyries riding, and one of them stood out from the others. She said:
“It will be a while, Helgi, before you rule the golden rings and the lands of Rothulsvellir. Even though you’re always silent, a young eagle will cry on the battlefield after you— you’ll show your courage, warrior.”
Helgi said:
“You named me Helgi— what gift will you give to accompany my name-giving, you lovely woman? I think you know what everyone’s names are. But I will not accept my name, unless I get you as a gift along with it.”
The Valkyrie said:
“I know where there lie forty-six swords in Sigarsholm. But one of those shield-breaking blades is better than the others; it’s decked with gold.
“There’s a ring in the hilt, and courage in its middle, and there’s fear in its point— fear of the man who wields it. A blood-colored serpent decorates the blade; another serpent bites its tail on the hilt’s hand-guard.”
A king was named Eylimi; he had a daughter named Svava. She was a Valkyrie who rode on the waves and winds. It was she who gave Helgi his name, and who defended him in many battles afterwards.
Helgi said:
“Hjorvarth, you are not a wise king, not a good leader of men, though you are wise enough. You’ve burned the halls of other kings, who had given you no provocation.
“But Hrothmar will come to power, and own the rings our people have owned. That man fears no one in this life; he thinks he’ll own our inheritance when we’re all dead.”
Hjorvarth said he would let Helgi have an army, if Helgi would avenge his mother’s father, King Svafnir. Then Helgi found the sword Svava had told him about, and he and Atli went and killed Hrothmar and did many other great warlike deeds.
Helgi killed the giant Hati where he sat on a hill. Then Helgi and Atli anchored their ships in Hati’s Fjord. Atli stood watch during the first part of the night. Then Hrimgerth, the daughter of Hati, said:
“Who are you men in Hati’s Fjord? Your ships are decked with shields. You speak boldly; I think you fear nothing— tell me the name of your king.”
Atli said:
“He is named Helgi, but you can’t do any harm to that fierce man. There are iron ships in his fleet; they’re too tough even for a giant woman.”
“What are you named,” asked Hrimgerth, “you strong man? What do people call you? Your king must trust you, since he lets you stand on the fair ship’s prow.”
“I am named Atli, and I will be fierce against you; I have great hate of giant women. I’ve often stood on a ship’s wet prow, I’ve often killed witch women.
“And what are you called, you corpse-hungry sorceress, you monster? Name your father, too. You ought to be lying nine miles below the earth, with a tree’s roots in you.”
“I am named Hrimgerth, and my father is Hati, who I think is the greatest of giants. He had many women, all stolen from their homes, before Helgi killed him.”
“Witch, you’ve been here by the king’s ships, you’ve waited in the fjord’s mouth. You were meaning to give the king’s men to Ran, if their spears didn’t kill you first.”
“I think you’ve been deluded by a dream, Atli: I see your eyelashes sunk low. My mother lay in wait for the king’s ships, and I drowned Hlothvarth’s sons in the sea.
“And now you would shout, Atli, if you weren’t a gelding— now I, Hrimgerth, stretch out my neck. You have a coward’s heart, Atli, though I think you have a handsome voice.”
“A gelding? You’ll think I’m a stallion if you get to try me, if I come ashore from my ship. You’ll have all your bones broken, if I carry out my threats— I’ll hang you by your neck, Hrimgerth.”
“Come to land, Atli, if you have the courage, and we’ll meet in Varin’s bay. I’ll straighten out your ribs, boy, if you come within my grasp.”
“I won’t leave till the men wake, and take over the watch for the king. I can’t be sure when you’ll come to attack our ship, you monster.”
“Wake, Helgi!” said Hrimgerth. “Pay me back for when you killed my father— sleep at my side for one night, and I’ll consider the debt paid.”
Helgi said, “Only a hairy beast would take you, you’re too ugly. But a giant, a very wise giant, the worst kind of lava-monster, lives in Tholley, and he’d be a good match for you.”
Hrimgerth said, “Helgi, you’d rather have Svava, who ruled the sea last night— that sparkling sea seemed stronger than I am. Here the land rises from the sea and holds your fleet, and she alone is the reason I couldn’t kill your men.”
“Hear me, Hrimgerth,” said Helgi. “If I’m going to compensate you for your father, tell me more: Was it just one lady who saved my ships, or were there more of them?”
“There were twenty-seven, though one rode before them all, a beautiful lady wearing a helmet. Their mares were stirred up, dew dripped from their manes into the deep trenches, like hail upon the high trees when the year turns; I hated all this as I saw it.”
“Look to the east now, Hrimgerth! I, Helgi, have kept you talking till your death. My fleet is saved on land and on sea, and my men are spared your terrors.”
“It’s morning, Hrimgerth! I, Atli, have kept you talking till your death. Now you’ll become just a ridiculous standing stone in the sea.”
King Helgi was a great warrior. He came to King Eylimi and asked for the hand of his daughter Svava. Helgi and Svava swore their faithfulness to one another, and they loved each other very much. Svava stayed at home with her father, and Helgi went out on raids. Svava was still a Valkyrie, as she had been before.
Helgi’s half-brother Hethin also stayed at home with their father, King Hjorvarth, in Norway.
One time Hethin was away from home alone on a winter evening, and he met a giant woman. She was riding a wolf, and she was using snakes as reins. She offered to accompany Hethin. He refused her, and she said, “You’ll repay this at the feast, when you make your oaths.”
That evening there was a feast, and oaths were sworn. A big boar was brought in, and men laid their hands on it and swore oaths as they drank. Hethin swore that he would take Svava, daughter of Eylimi, his brother Helgi’s lover, but later he regretted this oath so much that he wandered wild roads to the south alone, and eventually he met his brother Helgi. Helgi said:
“Greetings, Hethin! What news can you tell me from Norway? Young ruler, why are you in exile? Why have you come alone to seek me?”
“A much greater misfortune has befallen me: I swore to take your noble-born bride, when I made my oath at the feast.”
“Don’t concern yourself, Hethin; the oaths men make while drinking will always prove true. A king has challenged me to a duel, and before three nights have passed, I must meet him at the appointed place. I doubt that I will survive; and then it would be good, if you took Svava.”
“Are you saying, Helgi, that I still deserve your good will, and gifts from you? It would be more befitting if you bloodied your sword in me, than if you gave your enemy peace.”
Helgi spoke as he did because he suspected he was doomed, and that the troll-woman that Hethin had seen riding the wolf was in fact Helgi’s own guardian spirit, and she had caused Hethin to speak as he had.
There was a king named Alf, son of Hrothmar, and it was he who had challenged Helgi to meet him for a duel on Sigarsvellir before three nights had passed. Then Helgi said:
“That dark giant woman rode a wolf, she offered to go with Hethin— she knew that I, Sigerlinn’s son, would be slain on Sigarsvellir.”
Then there was a great battle, and Helgi was mortally wounded.
Helgi sent Sigar to ride to Svava, Eylimi’s daughter— he said to tell her to make haste, if she wanted to see Helgi alive.
Sigar said, “Helgi sent me to you, Svava, he gave me a message. That warrior wants to see you again, before the noble man falls dead of his wounds.”
Svava said, “What has happened to Helgi, son of Hjorvarth? This is a terrible sorrow for me. But whether he drowned in the sea, or was torn by a sword, I’ll pay this back in full to the man who caused it.”
Sigar said, “Helgi, the best king under the sun, fell this morning at Frekastein. Alf has total victory, although it didn’t have to end this way.”
Helgi said, “Welcome, Svava, this will be our last meeting in life. Spread a blanket beneath my body; a sword has come too near my heart.
“I ask you, Svava, my bride, if you will heed my dying words— that you will sleep by Hethin, that you will love my young brother.”
Svava said, “Helgi, when you gave me rings, I said this: I said I would never willingly in my life put my arms around another man, if you died.”
“Kiss me, Svava,” said Hethin. “I won’t ever return to Rogheim or Rothulsfjoll, before I’ve avenged Helgi, Hjorvarth’s son. That man was the best beneath the sun.”
It is said that Helgi and Svava were reincarnated.