Misplaced Pages

#598401

46-587: Henry Adams Bellows maintains in his commentaries that it is a patchwork of various poems that do not fit well together, but stanzas 28-37 and 39-50 are held to be among the finest in Old Norse poetry. The first section (containing stanzas 1 to 4) introduces Helgi as the son of Sigmund , of the Ylfing and the Völsung clan, and Borghild . They resided at Brálund and they named their son after Helgi Hjörvarðsson . Their clan

92-662: A dissertation in comparative literature entitled The Relations between Prose and Metrical Composition in Old Norse Literature and then became an assistant professor of rhetoric at the University of Minnesota . From 1912 to 1919 he was managing editor of The Bellman , a Minneapolis literary magazine, vice president of the Bellman Company, and a director of the Miller Publishing Company; from 1914 to 1925 he

138-462: A dream is it,' said Óðinn, 'in which just before daybreak, I thought I cleared Valhǫll, for coming of slain men? I waked the Einherjar, bade valkyries rise up, to strew the bench, and scour the beakers, wine to carry, as for a king's coming, here to me I expect heroes' coming from the world, certain great ones, so glad is my heart.' The god Bragi asks where a thundering sound

184-474: A misplaced version of the flyting between Sinfjötli (Helgi's half-brother) and Guthmundr, which probably is older than the one found in Helgakviða Hundingsbana I . In the seventh section (containing stanzas 28-37) Sigrún's brother Dagr, who had been spared by vowing allegiance to Helgi, sacrificed to Odin in the hope of getting revenge for Helgi's slaying of his father and brothers. Odin gave Dagr

230-410: A spear with which Dagr pierced Helgi at a location called Fjöturlundr . Dagr then returned to tell his sister of Helgi's death: Trauðr em ek, systir, trega þér at segja, því at ek hefi nauðigr nifti grætta; fell í morgun und Fjöturlundi buðlungr, sá er var beztr í heimi ok hildingum á halsi stóð. Sad am I, sister, sorrow to tell thee, Woe to my kin unwilling I worked; In

276-465: A stanza from Grímnismál . In chapter 41, Gangleri notes that there are very many people in Valhalla, and that Óðinn is a "very great lord when he commands such a troop". Gangleri then asks what entertainment the einherjar have when they're not drinking. High responds that every day, the einherjar get dressed and "put on war-gear and go out into the courtyard and fight each other and fall upon each other. This

322-765: A wolf in the woods without, Possessing nought and knowing no joy, Having no food save corpses to feed on. Dagr was banished to live on carrion in the woods and Helgi was buried in a barrow. When Helgi had entered Valhalla Odin asked Helgi to rule over the Einherjar together with himself. There is a stanza which Bellows interprets as a misplaced stanza on the conflict between Helgi and Hunding, but others interpret as Helgi oppressing Hunding in Valhalla: Þú skalt, Hundingr, hverjum manni fótlaug geta ok funa kynda, hunda binda, hesta gæta, gefa svínum soð, áðr sofa gangir. Thou shalt, Hunding, of every hero Wash

368-617: Is coming from, and says that the benches of Valhalla are creaking—as if the god Baldr had returned to Valhalla—and that it sounds like the movement of a thousand. Óðinn responds that Bragi knows well that the sounds are for Eric Bloodaxe, who will soon arrive in Valhalla. Óðinn tells the heroes Sigmund and Sinfjötli to rise to greet Eric and invite him into the hall, if it is indeed he. Sigmund asks Óðinn why he would expect Eric more than any other king, to which Óðinn responds that Eric has reddened his gore-drenched sword with many other lands. Eric arrives, and Sigmund greets him, tells him that he

414-412: Is drunk, and that Geirröd loses much when he loses his favor and the favor of "all the Einherjar." In the poem Helgakviða Hundingsbana I , the hero Sinfjötli flyts with Guðmundur. Sinfjötli accuses Guðmundur of having once been a female, including that he was "a witch, horrible, unnatural, among Odin's valkyries" and that all of the einherjar "had to fight, headstrong women, on your account". In

460-595: Is provided (see the Fagrskinna section below for more detail and another translation from another source): What sort of dream is that, Odin? I dreamed I rose up before dawn to clear up Val-hall for slain people. I aroused the Einheriar, bade them get up to strew the benches, clean the beer-cups, the valkyries to serve wine for the arrival of a prince. At the end of the Heimskringla saga Hákonar saga góða ,

506-409: Is sullied with blood and his hands were wet. He explained that it was because every tear she had shed had fallen wet and cold on him. In spite of this, she prepared the bed in his mound and they spent a night together. Before day broke, Helgi had to return to Valhalla. Sigrún returned home and spent the rest of her life waiting in vain for Helgi to return to his barrow one more time. She died early from

SECTION 10

#1733092990599

552-441: Is their sport." High says that when dinner time arrives, the einherjar ride back to Valhalla and sit down to drink. In reference, High quotes a stanza from Grímnismál . In chapter 51, High foretells the events of Ragnarök. After the god Heimdallr awakens all the gods by blowing his horn Gjallarhorn , they will assemble at a thing , Óðinn will ride to the well Mímisbrunnr and consult Mímir on behalf of himself and his people,

598-485: Is translated as einheriar ): All the Einheriar fight in Odin's courts every day; they choose the slain and ride from battle; then they sit more at peace together. In the poem Grímnismál , Óðinn (disguised as Grímnir ) tells the young Agnarr Geirröðsson that the cook Andhrímnir boils the beast Sæhrímnir , which he refers to as "the best of pork", in the container Eldhrímnir , yet adds that "but few know by what

644-560: Is welcome to come into the hall, and asks him what other lords he has brought with him to Valhalla. Eric says that with him are five kings, that he will tell them the name of them all, and that he, himself, is the sixth. According to John Lindow , Andy Orchard, and Rudolf Simek , scholars have commonly connected the einherjar to the Harii , a Germanic tribe attested by Tacitus in his 1st-century AD work Germania . Tacitus writes: Lindow says that "many scholars think there may be basis for

690-475: The Grímnismál valkyrie list, and says that these valkyries wait in Valhalla, and there serve drink, and look after tableware and drinking vessels in Valhalla. In addition, High says that Óðinn sends valkyries to every battle, that they allot death to men, and govern victory. In chapter 38, High provides more detail about the einherjar. Gangleri says that "you say that all those men that have fallen in battle since

736-465: The Prose Edda book Gylfaginning , the einherjar are introduced in chapter 20. In chapter 20, Third tells Gangleri (described as king Gylfi in disguise) that Óðinn is called Valföðr (Old Norse "father of the slain") "since all those who fall in battle are his adopted sons," and that Óðinn assigns them places in Valhalla and Vingólf where they are known as einherjar. In chapter 35, High quotes

782-433: The einherjar (singular einheri ; literally "army of one", "those who fight alone") are those who have died in battle and are brought to Valhalla by valkyries . In Valhalla, the einherjar eat their fill of the nightly resurrecting beast Sæhrímnir , and valkyries bring them mead from the udder of the goat Heiðrún . The einherjar prepare daily for the events of Ragnarök , when they will advance for an immense battle at

828-405: The "green homes of the godheads" to tell Óðinn that the king will come to Valhalla. In Valhalla, Haakon is greeted by Hermóðr and Bragi . Haakon expresses concern that he shall receive Óðinn's hate ( Lee Hollander theorizes this may be due to Haakon's conversion to Christianity from his Norse religion), yet Bragi responds that he is welcome: 'All einheriar shall swear oaths to thee: share thou

874-453: The All-Father, would invite kings, earls, and other "men of rank" to his home and give them water to drink. High says that he "swears by his faith" that many who come to Valhalla would think that he paid a high price for a drink of water if there were no better beverages there, after having died of wounds and in agony. High continues that atop Valhalla stands the goat Heiðrún , and it feeds on

920-594: The Federal Communications Commission. He was technical adviser to the first International Radio Telegraph Conference that year. To forestall greater government interference in broadcasting, he advocated stations' programming individually to meet their listeners' needs; he left the FRC 18 months into his three-year term. From 1928 to 1935, he was a director of the National Association of Broadcasters ; he

966-496: The beginning of the world have now come to Odin in Val-hall. What has he got to offer them food? I should have thought that there must be a pretty large number there." High replies that it is true there are a pretty large number of men there, adding many more have yet to arrive, yet that "there will seem too few when the wolf comes." However, High adds that food is not a problem because there will never be too many people in Valhalla that

SECTION 20

#1733092990599

1012-732: The daughter of Harvard chemistry professor Charles Robert Sanger , in 1911; they had two children. After her death in 1935, he married a second time in 1936 to Alice Eels. Bellows is also known for translating the Poetic Edda for The American-Scandinavian Foundation and Peter Abélard 's Historia Calamitatum . The range of his four other books indicates the breadth of his interests: Manual for Local Defense , A Treatise on Riot Duty for National Guards , Highland Light, and Other Poems and A Short History of Flour Milling . [REDACTED] Works by or about Henry Adams Bellows at Wikisource Einherjar In Norse mythology ,

1058-417: The einheriar are nourished." Further into Grímnismál , Odin gives a list of valkyries (Skeggjöld, Skögul, Hildr, Þrúðr , Hlökk, Herfjötur, Göll, Geirahöð, Randgríð, Ráðgríð, and Reginleif), and states that they bear ale to the einherjar. Towards the end of the poem, another reference to the einherjar appears when Óðinn tells the king Geirröd (unaware that the man he has been torturing is Óðinn) that Geirröd

1104-570: The einherjar and the Harii , a Germanic people or figures from early Germanic folklore attested in the 1st century AD, and scholars have connected the einherjar to the eternal battle of Hjaðningavíg and the Wild Hunt . The einherjar have been the subject of works of art and poetry. In the poem Vafþrúðnismál , Óðinn engages the wise jötunn Vafþrúðnir in a game of wits. Disguised as Gagnráðr , Óðinn asks Vafþrúðnir "where men fight in courts every day." Vafþrúðnir responds that (here einherjar

1150-464: The feet, and kindle the fire, Tie up dogs, and tend the horses, And feed the swine ere to sleep thou goest. An eighth section (containing stanzas 39-50) deals with a short visit by Helgi from Valhalla and his meeting with Sigrún in his barrow. One evening, a maiden told Sigrún that she has seen Helgi ride with a large retinue into his own barrow, and so Sigrún went to the barrow in order to see Helgi. His hair were covered with frost, his body

1196-563: The field of Vígríðr . The einherjar are attested in the Poetic Edda , compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, the Prose Edda , written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson , the poem Hákonarmál (by the 10th century skald Eyvindr skáldaspillir ) as collected in Heimskringla , and a stanza of an anonymous 10th century poem commemorating the death of Eric Bloodaxe known as Eiríksmál as compiled in Fagrskinna . An etymological connection exists between

1242-437: The foliage of the tree called Læraðr . From Heiðrún's udders flow mead that fills a vat a day. The vat is so large that all of the einherjar are able to drink to their fullness from it. In chapter 40, Gangleri says that Valhalla must be an immense building, yet it must often be crowded around the doorways. High responds that there are plenty of doors, and that crowding doesn't occur around them. In support, High again quotes

1288-408: The food on his table to his two wolves Geri and Freki , and that Óðinn himself needs no food, for Óðinn gains sustenance from wine as if it were drink and meat. High then quotes another stanza from Grímnismál in reference. In chapter 39, Gangleri asks what the einherjar drink that is as plentiful as their food, and if they drink water. High responds that it is strange that Gangleri is asking if Óðinn,

1334-439: The formation of the concept of the einherjar as well as the Wild Hunt [...]". Simek continues that the notion of an eternal battle and daily resurrection appears in book I of Saxo Grammaticus ' Gesta Danorum and in reports of the eternal battle of Hjaðningavíg . According to Guðbrandur Vigfússon (1874), the concept of the einherjar links directly to the Old Norse name Einarr . Vigfússon comments that "the name Einarr

1380-427: The gods, einherjar and all of mankind have died, noting that he had previously been told that "everyone will live in some world or other for ever and ever." High replies with a list of locations, and then describes the re-emerging of the world after Ragnarök. The einherjar receive a final mention in the Prose Edda in chapter 2 of the book Skáldskaparmál , where a quote from the anonymous 10th century poem Eiríksmál

1426-421: The meat of Sæhrímnir (which he calls a boar ) cannot sufficiently feed. High says that Sæhrímnir is cooked every day by the cook Andhrímnir in the pot Eldhrimnir, and is again whole every evening. High then quotes the stanza of Grímnismál mentioning the cook, meal, and container in reference. Further into chapter 38, Gangleri asks if Óðinn consumes the same meals as the einherjar. High responds that Óðinn gives

Helgakviða Hundingsbana II - Misplaced Pages Continue

1472-805: The morn there fell at Fjoturlund The noblest prince the world has known, (And his heel he set on the heroes' necks.) Sigrún avenged her husband by placing on her brother the most horrible curse: Þik skyli allir eiðar bíta, þeir er Helga hafðir unna at inu ljósa Leiftrar vatni ok at úrsvölum Unnarsteini. Skríði-at þat skip, er und þér skríði, þótt óskabyrr eftir leggisk; renni-a sá marr, er und þér renni, þóttú fjándr þína forðask eigir. Bíti-a þér þat sverð, er þú bregðir, nema sjalfum þér syngvi of höfði. Þá væri þér hefnt Helga dauða, ef þú værir vargr á viðum úti auðs andvani ok alls gamans, hefðir eigi mat, nema á hræjum spryngir. Now may every oath thee bite That with Helgi sworn thou hast, By

1518-412: The myth in an ancient Odin cult, which would be centered on young warriors who entered into an ecstatic relationship with Odin and that the name Harii has been etymologically connected to the -herjar element of einherjar . Simek says that since the connection has become widespread, "one tends to interpret these obviously living armies of the dead as religiously motivated bands of warriors, who led to

1564-407: The poem Hákonarmál (by the 10th century skald Eyvindr skáldaspillir ) is presented. The saga relates that king Haakon I of Norway died in battle, and yet though he is Christian, he requests that since he has died "among heathens, then give me such burial place as seems most fitting to you." The saga relates that, shortly after, Haakon died on the same slab of rock that he was born upon, that he

1610-476: The second section (containing stanzas 5 to 12), Helgi lay with his war party at Brunarvagar and had slaughtered some rustled cattle on the beach and were eating the meat raw. Then Sigrún , who was Sváfa reborn appeared, and introduced herself as the daughter of king Högne . In the third section (containing stanzas 13 to 20), which is called the Old Völsung Lay , Sigrún's father had promised her to Hothbrodd,

1656-521: The son of king Granmarr . Sigrún opposed the marriage and sought out Helgi, who was exhausted from a battle in which he had killed Hunding's sons Eyjólfr, Álfr, Hjörvarðr and Hávarðr. The Valkyrie embraced him and kissed him, and Helgi promised her to fight against Granmarr and his sons. Helgi assembled an army and invaded Granmar's kingdom together with his brother Sinfjötli . They won the battle and Helgi could take Sigrún as his wife with whom he had sons. A fifth section (stanzas 22 to 27) consists of

1702-739: The sorrow, but she would meet him in the next life when she was the Valkyrie Kára and he was Helgi Haddingjaskati . Henry Adams Bellows (businessman) Henry Adams Bellows (September 22, 1885 – December 29, 1939) was a newspaper editor and radio executive who was an early member of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission . He is also known for his translation of the Poetic Edda for The American-Scandinavian Foundation . Born in Portland, Maine , Bellows graduated from Harvard University in 1906, and then taught English as an assistant there for three years. He received his Ph.D. in 1910 for

1748-405: The two valkyries Göndul and Skögul to "choose among the kings' kinsmen" and who in battle should dwell with Óðinn in Valhalla. A battle rages with great slaughter. Haakon and his men die in battle, and they see the valkyrie Göndul leaning on a spear shaft. Göndul comments that "groweth now the gods' following, since Hákon has been with host so goodly bidden home with holy godheads." Haakon hears "what

1794-476: The valkyries said," and the valkyries are described as sitting "high-hearted on horseback," wearing helmets, carrying shields and that the horses wisely bore them. A brief exchange follows between Haakon and the valkyrie Skögul: Hákon said: 'Why didst Geirskogul grudge us victory? though worthy we were for the gods to grant it?' Skogul said: 'Tis owing to us that the issue was won and your foemen fled.' Skögul says that they shall now ride forth to

1840-407: The water bright of Leipt , And the ice-cold stone of Uth . The ship shall sail not in which thou sailest, Though a favoring wind shall follow after; The horse shall run not whereon thou ridest, Though fain thou art thy foe to flee. The sword shall bite not which thou bearest, Till thy head itself it sings about. "Vengeance were mine for Helgi's murder, Wert thou

1886-400: The world tree Yggdrasil will shake, and then the Æsir and the einherjar will don their war gear. The Æsir and einherjar will ride to the field Vígríðr while Óðinn rides before them clad in a golden helmet, mail, and holding his spear Gungnir , and heading towards the wolf Fenrir. In chapter 52, Gangleri asks what will happen after the heavens, earth, and all of the world are burned and

Helgakviða Hundingsbana II - Misplaced Pages Continue

1932-507: The Æsir's ale, thou enemy-of-earls! Here within hast thou brethren eight,' said Bragi. In chapter 8 of Fagrskinna , a prose narrative states that, after the death of her husband Eric Bloodaxe , Gunnhild Mother of Kings had a poem composed about him. The composition is by an anonymous author from the 10th century and is referred to as Eiríksmál , and describes Eric Bloodaxe and five other kings arriving in Valhalla after their death. The poem begins with comments by Óðinn: 'What kind of

1978-499: Was greatly mourned by friend and foe alike, and that his friends moved his body northward to Sæheim in North Hordaland . Haakon was there buried in a large burial mound in full armor and his finest clothing, yet with no other valuables. Further, "words were spoken over his grave according to the custom of heathen men, and they put him on the way to Valhalla." The poem Hákonarmál is then provided. In Hákonarmál , Óðinn sends forth

2024-450: Was in a bloody feud with Hunding and his many sons. Helgi disguised himself and visited the home of Hunding's family where the only man present was Hunding's son Hæmingr (unknown in any other source). Hunding sent men to Helgi's foster-father Hagal to search for Helgi but Helgi hid by dressing as a female servant working with the mill. Helgi managed to escape to a warship after which he killed Hunding and earned his name Hundingsbane . In

2070-561: Was manager of Northwestern Broadcasting from 1929 to 1934 and a vice president of the Columbia Broadcasting System , forerunner of CBS , from 1930 to 1934. In 1930 he set up a transatlantic exchange for radio programs. His final position was as director of public relations for General Mills , where he founded the department. He died of lung cancer on December 29, 1939, in Minneapolis, Minnesota . He married Mary Sanger,

2116-685: Was managing editor of The Northwestern Miller . He also worked for the Minnesota Orchestra, in 1921–23 was music critic for the Minneapolis Daily News , and in 1925 was the manager of WCCO , one of the top radio stations in the country. He was also a major in the Minnesota Home Guard during World War I . In 1927 Bellows was appointed as one of the first members of the Federal Radio Commission, predecessor of

#598401