1.  Hast thou seen Sigrlinn, Svafnir’s daughter, of maidens fairest, in her pleasant home? though fair the wives of Hiorvard seem to men in Glasis-lund.

Atli.

2.  With Atli, Idmund’s son, sagacious bird! wilt thou further speak?

Bird.

I will if the prince will offer to me, and I may choose what I will from the king’s court.

Atli.

3.  Choose not Hiorvard nor his sons, nor the fair daughters of that prince, nor the wives which the king has.  Let us together bargain; that is the part of friends.

Bird.

4.  A fane I will chose, offer steads many, gold-horned cows from the chief’s land, if Sigrlinn sleep in his arms, and unconstrained with that prince shall live.

This took place before Atli’s journey; but after his return, when the king asked his tidings, he said: 

5.  Labour we have had, but errand none performed; our horses failed us in the vast fell; we had afterwards a swampy lake to ford; then was denied us Svafnir’s daughter with rings adorned, whom we would obtain.

The king commanded them to go a second time, and also went himself.  But when they had ascended a fell, and saw in Svavaland the country on fire, and a great reek from the horses of cavalry, the king rode down the fell into the country, and took up his night-quarters by a river.  Atli kept watch, and crossed the river, and came to a house, on which sat a great bird to guard it, but was asleep.  Atli shot the bird dead with an arrow.  In the house he found the king’s daughter Sigrlinn, and Alof daughter of Franmar, and brought them both away with him.  The jarl Franmar had taken the form of an eagle, and protected them from a hostile army by sorcery.  There was a king named Hrodmar, a wooer of Sigrlinn:  he had slain the king of Svavaland, and ravaged and burnt the country.  Hiorvard obtained Sigrlinn, and Atli Alof.  Hiorvard and Sigrlinn had a son tall and comely:  he was taciturn and had no fixed name.  As he was sitting on a mound he saw nine Valkyriur, one of whom was of most noble aspect.  She said: 

6.  Late wilt thou, Helgi! rings possess, a potent warrior, or Rodulsvellir,—­so at morn the eagle sang—­if thou art ever silent; although thou, prince! a fierce mood mayest show.

Helgi.

7.  What wilt thou let accompany the name of Helgi, maid of aspect bright! since that thou art pleased to give me?  Think well over what thou art saying.  I will not accept it, unless I have thee also.

Valkyria.

8.  Swords I know lying in Sigarsholm, fewer by four than five times ten:  one of them is of all the best, of shields the bale, with gold adorned.

9.  A ring is on the hilt, courage in the midst, in the point terror for his use who owns it:  along the edge a blood-stained serpent lies, and on the guard the serpent casts its tail.

There was a king named Eylimi; Svava was his daughter; she was a Valkyria and rode through air and water.  It was she who gave Helgi that name, and afterwards often protected him in battle.  Helgi said: