The Poetic Edda on Guth
The > Poetic Edda > The Verse-Forms Of The Eddic Poems
- attestation: The passage provides information about Guth.
"A poem in Fornyrthislag is normally entitled -kvitha (Thrymskvitha, Guthrunarkvitha, etc.), which for convenience I have rendered as "lay," while a poem in Ljothahattr is entitled -mol (Grimnismol, Skirnismol, etc.), which I have rendered as "ballad." It is difficult to find any distinction other than metrical between the two terms, although it is clear that one originally existed."
The > Volume Ii > (Ii)
- attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Guth, Helgi.
"7. "Where hast thou, warrior, | battle wakened, Or gorged the birds | of the sisters of Guth? Why is thy byrnie | spattered with blood, Why helmed dost feast | on food uncooked?"
Helgi spake:"
The > Volume Ii > Notes
- attestation: Guth is identified as a Valkyrie whose sisters' birds are kites and ravens
"Guth: a Valkyrie (cf. Voluspo, 31); the birds of her sisters are the kites and ravens."
The > part in a few of the Eddic poems. > Introductory Note
attribution: she delivers a speech in the verse.
"6. Without stood Guthrun, | Gjuki's daughter, Hear now the speech | that first she spake: "Where is Sigurth now, | the noble king, That my kinsmen riding | before him come?""
attestation: The stanza references rulership or authority involving she.
"6. Without stood Guthrun, | Gjuki's daughter, Hear now the speech | that first she spake: "Where is Sigurth now, | the noble king, That my kinsmen riding | before him come?""
attestation: The stanza describes death or destruction involving Guth.
"20. "The wound-staff then, | all wound with gold, The hero let | between us lie; With fire the edge | was forged full keen, And with drops of venom | the blade was damp." "
attestation: The stanza describes an act of creation involving Guth.
"20. "The wound-staff then, | all wound with gold, The hero let | between us lie; With fire the edge | was forged full keen, And with drops of venom | the blade was damp." "
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Guth.
"20. "The wound-staff then, | all wound with gold, The hero let | between us lie; With fire the edge | was forged full keen, And with drops of venom | the blade was damp." "
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Guth, Guthrun.
"2. To her the warriors | wise there came, Longing her heavy | woe to lighten; Grieving could not | Guthrun weep, So sad her heart, | it seemed, would break."
attestation: The stanza describes emotional response involving Guth.
"1. Then did Guthrun | think to die, When she by Sigurth | sorrowing sat; Tears she had not, | nor wrung her hands, Nor ever wailed, | as other women."
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Guth, Guthrun.
"3. Then the wives | of the warriors came, Gold-adorned, | and Guthrun sought; Each one then | of her own grief spoke, The bitterest pain | she had ever borne."
attestation: Guth is characterized by age in the verse.
"3. Then the wives | of the warriors came, Gold-adorned, | and Guthrun sought; Each one then | of her own grief spoke, The bitterest pain | she had ever borne."
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Guth.
"3. Then the wives | of the warriors came, Gold-adorned, | and Guthrun sought; Each one then | of her own grief spoke, The bitterest pain | she had ever borne."
attestation: The stanza describes death or destruction involving Guth.
"5. Grieving could not | Guthrun weep, Such grief she had | for her husband dead, And so grim her heart | by the hero's body."
attestation: Guth is characterized by grimness in the verse.
"5. Grieving could not | Guthrun weep, Such grief she had | for her husband dead, And so grim her heart | by the hero's body."
attestation: Guth is characterized by youth in the verse.
"2. A maid they gave him, | and jewels many, Guthrun the young, | the daughter of Gjuki; They drank and spake | full many a day, Sigurth the young | and Gjuki's sons."
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Guth.
"2. A maid they gave him, | and jewels many, Guthrun the young, | the daughter of Gjuki; They drank and spake | full many a day, Sigurth the young | and Gjuki's sons."
relationship: The stanza references alliance or oath between Guth and Freyr.
"24. Guthrun soft | in her bed had slept, Safe from care | at Sigurth's side; She woke to find | her joy had fled, In the blood of the friend | of Freyr she lay."
attestation: Guth is characterized by youth in the verse.
"25. So hard she smote | her hands together That the hero rose up, | iron-hearted: "Weep not, Guthrun, | grievous tears, Bride so young, | for thy brothers live."
attestation: The stanza describes death or destruction involving Guth.
"53. "Thou shalt Guthrun requite | more quick than thou thinkest, . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . Though sadly mourns | the maiden wise Who dwells with the king, | o'er her husband dead."
attestation: The stanza references rulership or authority involving Guth.
"53. "Thou shalt Guthrun requite | more quick than thou thinkest, . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . Though sadly mourns | the maiden wise Who dwells with the king, | o'er her husband dead."
attestation: Guth is characterized by nobility in the verse.
"55. "Guthrun a noble | husband thou givest, Yet to many a warrior | woe will she bring, Not happily wedded | she holds herself; Her shall Atli | hither seek, (Buthli's son, | and brother of mine.)"
attestation: Guth is characterized by grimness in the verse.
"59. "But soon thereafter | Atli too His life, methinks, | as thou shalt lose, (His fortune lose | and the lives of his sons;) Him shall Guthrun, | grim of heart, With the biting blade | in his bed destroy."
attestation: The stanza references rulership or authority involving Guth.
"13. "Yet Guthrun reproached me, | Gjuki's daughter, That I in Sigurth's | arms had slept; Then did I hear | what I would were hid, That they had betrayed me | in taking a mate."
attestation: Guth is characterized by age in the verse.
"26. "Guthrun, gold | to thee I give, The wealth that once | thy father's was, Rings to have, | and Hlothver's halls, And the hangings all | that the monarch had."
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Guth.
"26. "Guthrun, gold | to thee I give, The wealth that once | thy father's was, Rings to have, | and Hlothver's halls, And the hangings all | that the monarch had."
attestation: The stanza references rulership or authority involving Guth.
"31. "Noblest of birth | is the ruler now I have found for thee, | and foremost of all; Him shalt thou have | while life thou hast, Or husbandless be | if him thou wilt choose not."
Guthrun spake:"
- attestation: Guth is characterized by age in the verse.
"2. "It troubles me, Guthrun, | Gjuki's daughter, What Herkja here | in the hall hath told me, That thou in the bed | with Thjothrek liest, Beneath the linen | in lovers' guise."
Guthrun spake:"
attestation: The passage describes violence or death involving Guth.
"The two Atli poems deal with substantially the same material: the visit of the sons of Gjuki to Atli's court, their deaths, and the subsequent revenge of their sister, Guthrun, Atli's wife, on her husband."
attestation: The passage describes the location Valhall.
"In each case the poet was apparently a Christian; in the Atlamol (stanza 82) Guthrun expresses her readiness to die and "go into another light," and in the Atlakvitha there is frequent use of mythological names (e.g., Valhall, Hlithskjolf) with an evident lack of understanding of their relation to the older gods."
attestation: Guth is characterized by ferocity in the verse.
"41. There was clamor on the benches, | and the cry of men, The clashing of weapons, | and weeping of the Huns, Save for Guthrun only, | she wept not ever For her bear-fierce brothers, | or the boys so dear,"
attestation: Guth is characterized by gladness in the verse.
"43. Unwise then was Atli, | he had drunk to wildness, No weapon did he have, | and of Guthrun bewared not; Oft their play was better | when both in gladness Each other embraced | among princes all."
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Guth, Guthrun.
"43. In the house came the word | how the heroes without Fought in front of the hall; | they heard a thrall tell it; Grim then was Guthrun, | the grief when she heard, With necklaces fair, | and she flung them all from her,"
attestation: Guth is characterized by beauty in the verse.
"43. In the house came the word | how the heroes without Fought in front of the hall; | they heard a thrall tell it; Grim then was Guthrun, | the grief when she heard, With necklaces fair, | and she flung them all from her,"
attestation: Guth is characterized by grimness in the verse.
"43. In the house came the word | how the heroes without Fought in front of the hall; | they heard a thrall tell it; Grim then was Guthrun, | the grief when she heard, With necklaces fair, | and she flung them all from her,"
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Guth.
"43. In the house came the word | how the heroes without Fought in front of the hall; | they heard a thrall tell it; Grim then was Guthrun, | the grief when she heard, With necklaces fair, | and she flung them all from her,"
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Guth.
"52. We lay seldom together | since to me thou wast given, Now my kin all are gone, | of my gold am I robbed; Nay, and worst, thou didst send | my sister to hell."
Guthrun spake:"
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Guth, Guthrun.
"54. "Go now, ye warriors, | and make greater the grief Of the woman so fair, | for fain would I see it; So fierce be thy warring | that Guthrun shall weep, I would gladly behold | her happiness lost."
attestation: Guth is characterized by beauty in the verse.
"54. "Go now, ye warriors, | and make greater the grief Of the woman so fair, | for fain would I see it; So fierce be thy warring | that Guthrun shall weep, I would gladly behold | her happiness lost."
attestation: Guth is characterized by age in the verse.
"54. "Go now, ye warriors, | and make greater the grief Of the woman so fair, | for fain would I see it; So fierce be thy warring | that Guthrun shall weep, I would gladly behold | her happiness lost."
attestation: Guth is characterized by ferocity in the verse.
"54. "Go now, ye warriors, | and make greater the grief Of the woman so fair, | for fain would I see it; So fierce be thy warring | that Guthrun shall weep, I would gladly behold | her happiness lost."
attestation: Guth is characterized by gladness in the verse.
"54. "Go now, ye warriors, | and make greater the grief Of the woman so fair, | for fain would I see it; So fierce be thy warring | that Guthrun shall weep, I would gladly behold | her happiness lost."
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Guth, Guthrun.
"70. Full heedless the warrior | was that he trusted her, So clear was her guile | if on guard he had been; But crafty was Guthrun, | with cunning she spake, Her glance she made pleasant, | with two shields she played."
attestation: The stanza describes an act of creation involving Guth.
"70. Full heedless the warrior | was that he trusted her, So clear was her guile | if on guard he had been; But crafty was Guthrun, | with cunning she spake, Her glance she made pleasant, | with two shields she played."
attestation: Guth is characterized by cunning in the verse.
"70. Full heedless the warrior | was that he trusted her, So clear was her guile | if on guard he had been; But crafty was Guthrun, | with cunning she spake, Her glance she made pleasant, | with two shields she played."
attestation: Guth is characterized by grimness in the verse.
"80. "Grim wast thou, Guthrun, | in so grievous a deed, My draught with the blood | of thy boys to mingle; Thou hast slain thine own kin, | most ill it beseemed thee, And little for me | twixt my sorrows thou leavest." "
attestation: The stanza describes death or destruction involving Guth.
"82. "With fire shall they burn thee, | and first shall they stone thee, So then hast thou earned | what thou ever hast sought for."
Guthrun spake:
"Such woes for thyself | shalt thou say in the morning,"
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Guth, Guthrun.
"85. Then the warrior spake, | as from slumber he wakened, Soon he knew for his wounds | would the bandage do nought: "Now the truth shalt thou say: | who has slain Buthli's son?"
attestation: Guth is characterized by gladness in the verse.
"87. "Not glad went I hence | thy hand to seek, Guthrun, In thy widowhood famed, | but haughty men found thee; My belief did not lie, | as now we have learned; I brought thee home hither, | and a host of men with us."
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Guth.
"90. "But all to thee was | as if nought it were worth, While the land lay before thee | that Buthli had left me; Thou in secret didst work | so the treasure I won not; My mother full oft | to sit weeping didst make,"
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Guth.
"96. "Thou liest now, Guthrun, | but little of good Will it bring to either, | for all have we lost; But, Guthrun, yet once | be thou kindly of will, For the honor of both, | when forth I am borne."
Guthrun spake:"
attestation: The stanza describes death or destruction involving Guth.
"98. Then did Atli die, | and his heirs' grief doubled; The high-born one did | as to him she had promised; Then sought Guthrun the wise | to go to her death, But for days did she wait, | and 'twas long ere she died."
attestation: Guth is characterized by wisdom in the verse.
"98. Then did Atli die, | and his heirs' grief doubled; The high-born one did | as to him she had promised; Then sought Guthrun the wise | to go to her death, But for days did she wait, | and 'twas long ere she died."
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Guth, Guthrun.
"1. A word-strife I learned, | most woeful of all, A speech from the fullness | of sorrow spoken, When fierce of heart | her sons to the fight Did Guthrun whet | with words full grim."
attestation: Guth is characterized by ferocity in the verse.
"1. A word-strife I learned, | most woeful of all, A speech from the fullness | of sorrow spoken, When fierce of heart | her sons to the fight Did Guthrun whet | with words full grim."
attestation: Guth is characterized by grimness in the verse.
"1. A word-strife I learned, | most woeful of all, A speech from the fullness | of sorrow spoken, When fierce of heart | her sons to the fight Did Guthrun whet | with words full grim."
attestation: The stanza references rulership or authority involving Guth.
"7. Laughing did Guthrun | go to her chamber, The helms of the kings | from the cupboards she took, And mail-coats broad, | to her sons she bore them; On their horses' backs | the heroes leaped."
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Guth.
"19. "Bridle, Sigurth, | thy steed so black, Hither let run | thy swift-faring horse; Here there sits not | son or daughter Who yet to Guthrun | gifts shall give."
attestation: Guth is characterized by age in the verse.
"2. Not now, nor yet | of yesterday was it, Long the time | that since hath lapsed, So that little there is | that is half as old, Since Guthrun, daughter | of Gjuki, whetted"
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Guth, Guthrun.
"10. "For thy brothers dost weep, | and thy boys so sweet, Thy kinsmen in birth | on the battlefield slain; Now, Guthrun, as well | for us both shalt thou weep, We sit doomed on our steeds, | and far hence shall we die.""