Riddle Contest

There was a man called Gestumblindi, powerful and a great enemy of King Heidrek. The king sent him word that he should come and settle things with him, if he wanted to keep his life. Gestumblindi was not a very wise man, and because he knows that he would be incapable of exchanging words with the king, and because he also knows that he doesn’t stand much chance submitting to the judgement of the wise-men—as they have plenty against him—he follows the course of sacrificing to Odin for help and asks him to look into his case and promises him many presents.

Late one evening there’s a knock at the door and Gestumblindi goes to the threshold and sees that a man has come. He asks the man his name and the stranger calls himself Gestumblindi and said that they should swap clothes—and so they do. The master goes away and hides and the stranger comes in and everyone thinks that he’s Gestumblindi, and the night passes.

Next day, this Gestumblindi makes his way to meet the king. And he greeted the king warmly. The king was silent.

“Lord,” he says, “I’ve come here to settle with you.”

Then the king answers, “Will you take the verdict of my wise men?”

He says, “Is there no other way out?”

The king replied, “There is another, if you think you’re up to asking riddles.”

Gestumblindi says, “I won’t be much good at that. But then the other choice is also tough.”

“Would you rather,” says the king, “accept the verdict of my wise men?”

“I think,” says Gestumblindi, “I’d rather ask riddles.”

“Fair enough,” says the king.

Then Gestumblindi said:

“I want to have
what I had yesterday—
work out what that was:
the mind-whacker,
the word-thwarter
and word up-raiser.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

The king says, “Good riddle, Gestumblindi—I’ve got it. Bring him ale. That smites many wits, and many are more gabby when the ale takes hold. And some it ties their tongues so they don’t get a word out.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“From home I went,
from home I made my way;
I saw a road of roads
and a road under them
and a road over them
and a road on all sides.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

The king says, “Good riddle, Gestumblindi—I’ve got it. You went on a bridge across a river, and the road of the river was below you and birds flew over your head and on either side, and that was their road.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“What is that drink
I drank yesterday?
It wasn’t wine or water;
not ale either
nor any food
yet I left released from thirst.
Heidrek King,
think on that.”

“Good riddle, Gestumblindi—I’ve got it. You lay in the shade and dew had fallen on the grass, and so your thirst was cooled and quenched. But if you’re the Gestumblindi I thought you were, then you’re smarter than I imagined, because I’ve heard that your words lacked wisdom, but now they’re getting more shrewd.”

“I’ll probably run out soon,” says Gestumblindi, “but still I’d like you to listen to another.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“Who is that shrill one
who rides a hard road,
has fared that way before?
He kisses hard
who has two mouths
and goes only on gold.
Heidrek King,
think on that.”

“Good riddle Gestumblindi—I’ve got it. It’s a hammer which is used for working gold. It shouts out loud when it hits the hard anvil, and that is its road.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“What is that wonder
I saw outside
before the Doors of Day?
Two lifeless ones,
lacking breath;
they boiled the leek of wounds.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

“Good riddle, Gestumblindi—I’ve got it. It’s bellows. They have no wind unless it’s blown into them. And they’re as dead as any other manmade object, but by means of them may be made a sword or any other thing. But these are crafty riddles for a man like you to be asking. You’re not much of a one with words.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“What is that wonder
I saw outside
before the Doors of Day?
Eight feet it has
and four eyes
and knees above its belly.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

The king said, “For one thing, your hood hangs low, and, for another, you do certainly see more down there from under it than most other men, pondering as you do every phantom of the earth. It’s a spider.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“What is that wonder
I saw outside
before the Doors of Day?
Its head directed
down to hell
but sunward face its feet.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

"Good riddle, Gestumblindi—I’ve got it. It’s a leek. Its head is stuck in the earth and it sprouts up as it grows.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“What is that wonder
I saw outside
before the Doors of Day?
Harder than horn,
blacker than raven,
whiter than egg-white,
straighter than shaft of spear.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

Heidrek said, “Your riddles are going downhill a bit now, Gestumblindi. What’s the point in sitting any longer at this? It’s obsidian, and the shine on it a sunbeam. And don’t you know any other way to pose riddles than to have the same beginning for each, seeing as how you seem to know so much?”

Gestumblindi said, “He who has a little knife must look for the joint—and likewise if one’s not too knowledgeable. I’d like to ask another.

“White-haired women,
servants two,
bore ale-tub to the larder.
No hand turned it
nor hammer beat it.
But there outside the islands,
the upright one who made it.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

“Good riddle, Gestumblindi—I’ve got it. There go swans to their nest to lay eggs. The shell of an egg is not turned by hands or shaped by hammers, and a swan is upright outside the islands. Swan is the answer, along with egg.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“Who are those troll-wives
on the great mountain?
Woman begets with woman,
a girl with a girl,
till she gets a son
but those wives have no husbands.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

“Good riddle, Gestumblindi—I’ve got it. It’s two angelicas and a little angelica stalk between them. But I wonder greatly at your wisdom and way with words.”

Gestumblindi said, “I’m about out of riddles now, but everyone’s greedy for life.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“I saw earth’s
ground-dwellers go;
corpse sat on corpse.
The blind rode the blind
to the briny sea.
That steed was short of breath.
Heidrek King,
think on that.”

“Good riddle, Gestumblindi—I’ve got it. You found a dead horse on a glacier and a dead snake on the horse, and all that drifts down the river.” Then the king said, “Who knows but that wiser men have a hand in this. But what kind of a man you are, that I don’t know.”

Gestumblindi answers, “I am just as you see me, but I’d gladly accept my life from you and be free of this effort?”

The king says, “You’ll ask riddles till you’re finished, or I fail to get them.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“Who are those thanes
who ride to the thing,[9]
sixteen guys together?
Across the land
they send their men
to seek a home for themselves.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

“Good riddle, Gestumblindi—I’ve got it. That’s Itrek, who is also called Odin, and the giant Andad, sitting playing tafl.”

“It’s going to get hard for me now, most likely,” says Gestumblindi, “and I don’t know what lies ahead.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“What wives are they:
their weaponless lord
they smite down and slay?
All day long
the darker defend
but the fairer ones go forward.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

“Good riddle, Gestumblindi—I’ve got it. It’s a game of hnettafl. The darker pieces defend the king, and the white ones attack.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“Who is that single one
who sleeps in the hearth
and stems from stone alone?
No father or mother
has Fain-to-Shine;
in that place he’ll pass his life.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

“That is fire hidden in the hearth. It comes from flint.”

Then Gestumblindi said:

“Who is that great one
who grasps the earth,
swallowing wood and water?
Bad weather he dreads,
wind, but no man,
and picks a fight with the sun.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

“Good riddle, Gestumblindi—I’ve got it. That’s fog. It grasps the earth so that no one sees in front of themselves and there’s no sun; but it’s off as soon as the wind gets up. But these are crafty riddles and puzzles you’re posing, whoever you are.”

Then Gestumblindi said:

“What beast is that
that butchers wealth,
is circled outside with iron?
Eight horns it has
but a head never
and much hazard hangs upon it.
King Heidrek
guess my riddle.”

“That’s the die in hnettafl, also called the cub. Its horns are its corners.”[10]

Then said Gestumblindi:

“What beast is that,
defends fighters;
it bears a bloody back,
but men it saves,
meets spears,
gives life to some,
and lays its self
inside a soldier’s palm?
King Heidrek
guess my riddle.”

“It’s a shield. That is often bloody in battles and defends well those men who know how to use it.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“What sisters at play
pass over countries
through a father’s wish to be wise?
A white shield
in winter they bear
and a sable one in the summer.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

“They’re ptarmigans. They are white in winter and black in summer.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“Who are the women
who wistful go
through a father’s wish to be wise?
To many a man
mischief they’ve done;
that’s how they’ll live their lives.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

“Those are Hler’s wives, as we say: waves.”

Then Gestumblindi said:

“Who are those maidens
who go many together
through a father’s wish to be wise?
White hair have they,
the white-bonnet ladies,
but those wives have no husbands.”

“Those are billows, as before.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“Which are the widows
who walk all together
through a father’s wish to be wise?
They’re seldom kind
to the sons of men
and must keep awake in the wind.”

“That’s Aegir’s widows, a name for waves.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“Up long ago
a nose-goose had grown;
eager for offspring
was she who gathered
house-timber together.
They defended her,
bite-swords of straw,
though drink’s bellow-
basalt lay over her.”

“There a duck has built its nest in the middle of an ox’s jawbone, and the skull rests above.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“Who is that great one
that governs much
and hoves to the hellward side;
men he defends
and fights with earth
if he’s found a trusty friend?”

“Good riddle, Gestumblindi—I’ve got it. It’s an anchor with a good rope. If its fluke is in the sea floor then it offers protection.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“Who are those wives
who walk in the skerries
and take a trip down the firth?
Their bed is hard,
the white-bonnet women.
They can’t play much in calm.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

“Those are breakers; their bed is skerry and rocks. And they’re not seen much in calm weather. But your delivery’s gone all to pieces; maybe you’d like to endure the judgement of my wise men?”

Gestumblindi says, “I’m reluctant to face that although I suspect it can’t be far off.

“Four hang,
four sprang,
two point the way,
two ward off dogs,
one dangles after
and always rather dirty.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

“Good riddle, Gestumblindi—I’ve got it. It’s a cow. That has four feet and four udders, two horns and two eyes, and the tail dangles after.”

Gestumblindi said:

“What inhabits high fells?
What falls in deep dales?
What lives without breath?
What is never silent?
King Heidrek,
Guess my riddle.”

“Good riddle Gestumblindi. A raven always lives on high fells, and dew always falls in a deep dale; fish live without breath, and a rushing waterfall is never silent.”

Gestumblindi said:

“What is that wonder
I saw outside
before the Doors of Day?
White they whirl,
strike stone,
and bury themselves black in the sand.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

“Good riddle. Now they’re getting easier. That’s hail and rain, since hail strikes the street, and raindrops sink in sand and go into the earth.”

Gestumblindi said:

“A black boar I saw
in muck wallow,
and not a bristle grew on its back.
King Heidrek,
guess my riddle.”

“Good riddle. It’s a dung-beetle. But it’s come to something when dung-beetles are the subject of great men’s questions.”

Gestumblindi answers, “Bad things are best put off, and many men play for more time; after all, some people do miss things. I see now too that no stone should be left unturned.

“I sat on a sail;
I saw dead men
bear a blood-hole
into the bark of a tree.”

“There you sat on a wall and saw a hawk carry an eider-duck into crags.”[11]

Gestumblindi said:

“What is that wonder
that whines on high?
The elm-lathe howls;
they’re hard, chief.
Heidrek King,
think on that.”

“Good riddle. It’s an arrow,” says the king.

Gestumblindi said:

“What is it that makes
for men a light
but flame engulfs it
and wargs fight over it always?”

“Good riddle. It’s the sun. She lights up every land and shines over all men, and Skalli and Hatti are called wargs. Those are wolves, one going before the sun, the other after.”

Gestumblindi said:

“A stallion I saw stand,
it struck a mare,
tossed tail and beat
buttock under belly;
out it must draw
and waggle a good long while.
Heidrek King,
think on that.”

Then the king replied, “My retainers should answer this riddle.” They made many guesses and not very pretty ones. Then, when he saw they weren’t going to get it, the king said, “You call that horse a web of linen, while the reed of the loom is his mare; and up and down the web shall shake.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“In summer I saw them
in the sunset
(when I said goodbye
they were barely drunk),
jarls sipping
ale in silence,
but there howling
the horn just stood.”

“Piglets drank from a sow there and she squealed at that. Good riddle, but I don’t know what sort of man you are, to make so much of such a small matter.” And now the king secretly orders them to bolt the doors of the hall.

Gestumblindi said:

“Maidens I saw
much like soil
boulders were beds to them,
sable and swarthy
in sunny weather
but lighter the less is seen.
King Heidrek,
Guess my riddle.”

“Good riddle. Those are embers faded on the hearth.”

Then said Gestumblindi:

“What is that wonder
I saw outside
before the Doors of Day?
Ten tongues it has,
twenty eyes,
forty feet;
forward marches the monster.
Heidrek King,
think on that.”

The king said then, “If you are the Gestumblindi I thought, then you are indeed wiser than I imagined. It’s the sow you’re talking about now out in the yard.”

Then the king had the sow slaughtered, and she had nine piglets inside as Gestumblindi had said. Now the king suspects who man this must be.

Then Gestumblindi said:

“Who are those two
who have ten feet,
three eyes
and one tail?
Heidrek King,
think on that.”

“Good riddle—now you’re making an effort, coming up with ancient marvels for me: that’s Odin riding Sleipnir.”

Then Gestumblindi said:

“Then tell me this
one last thing if you can,
if you are
of all kings the wisest:
what did Odin say
in Baldr’s ear
before he was raised on the pyre?”

King Heidrek says, “Only you know that, monster.”

And then Heidrek draws Tyrfing and slashes at him, and Odin changed into the form of a hawk and flew out through a window of the hall. But the king hacked after him and cut off his tail-feathers, and that’s why to this day the hawk has a stubby tail. But the sword fell on a retainer, who died instantly.

Odin said, “For that, King Heidrek, because you lunged at me and wanted to kill me, the lowest thralls shall be your slayers.”

After that they part.


- The Saga of Hervor & King Heidrek the Wise (Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks), Chapter 11