n^.nÁklU-e-'i
yj/ZviÁ/
THE STORT OF THE FOLSUNGS.
VOL SUNG A SAGA.
THE STORY
, OF THE
VOLSUNGS & NIBLUNGS
WITH CERTAIN SONGS
FROM THE
ELDER EDDA.
TRANSLATED FROM THE ICELANDIC
BY
EIRÍKR MAGNÚSSON,
TRANSLATOR OF ' LEGENDS OF ICELAND ; '
WILLIAM MORRIS,
AUTHOR OF ' THE EARTHLY PARADISE.'
LONDON:
F. S. ELLIS, KING STREET, COVENT GARDEN.
MDCCCLXX.
PREFACE.
In offering to the reader this translation of the
most complete and dramatic form of the great
Epic of the North, we lay no claim to special
critical insight, nor do we care to deal at all with
vexed questions, but are content to abide by
existing authorities, doing our utmost to make
our rendering close and accurate, and, if it might
be so, at the same time, not over prosaic : it is to
the lover of poetry and nature, rather than to
the student, that we appeal to enjoy and wonder
at this great work, now for the first time, strange
to say, translated into English : this must be our
excuse for speaking here, as briefly as may be, of
things that will seem to the student over well
known to be worth mentioning, but which may
give some ease to the general reader who comes
across our book.
vi PREFACE.
The prose of the Völsunga Saga was composed
probably some time in the twelfth century, from
floating traditions no doubt; from songs which,
now lost, were then known, at least in fragments,
to the Sagaman ; and finally from songs, which,
written down about his time, are still existing :
the greater part of these last the reader will find
in this book ; some inserted amongst the prose
text by the original story-teller, and some by the
present translators, and the remainder in the latter
part of the book, put together as nearly as may be
in the order of the story, and forming a metrical
version of the greater portion of it.
These Songs from the Elder Edda we will
now briefly compare with the prose of the Volsung
Story, premising that these are the only metrical
sources existing of those from which the Sagaman
told his tale.
Except for the short snatch on p. 24 of our
translation, nothing is now left of these till we
come to the episode of Helgi Hundings-bane,
Sigurd's half-brother; there are two songs left
relating to this, from which the prose is put to-
gether; to a certain extent they cover the same
ground ; but the latter half of the second is, wisely
PREFACE. vii
as we think, left untouched by the Sagaman, as
its interest is of itself too great not to encumber
the progress of the main story ; for the sake of
its wonderful beauty however, we could not refrain
from rendering it, and it will be found first among
the metrical translations that form the second
part of this book.
Of the next part of the Saga, the deaths of
Sinfjotli and Sigmund, and the journey of Queen
Hjordis to the court of King Alf, there is no trace
left of any metrical origin ; but we meet the Edda
once more where Regin tells the tale of his kin to
Sigurd, and where Sigurd defeats and slays the
sons of Hunding : this lay is known as the Lay of
Regin.
The short chap. xvi. is abbreviated from a
long poem called the Prophecy of Gripir (the
Grifir of the Saga), where the whole story to come
is told with some detail, and which certainly, if
drawn out at length into the prose, would have
forestalled the interest of the tale.
In the slaying of the Dragon the Saga adheres
very closely to the Lay of Fafnir ; for the in-
sertion of the song of the birds to Sigurd the
present translators are responsible.
viii PREFACE.
Then comes the waking of Brynhild, and her
wise redes to Sigurd, taken from the Lay of
Sigrdrifa, the greater part of which, in its metrical
form, is inserted by the Sagaman into his prose '
but the stanzas relating Brynhild's awaking we
have inserted into the text ; the latter part, omitted
in the prose, we have translated for the second
part of our book.
Of Sigurd at Hlymdale, of Gudrun's dream,
the magic potion of Grimhild, the wedding of
Sigurd consequent on that potion; of the wooing
of Brynhild for Gunnar, her marriage to him, of
the quarrel of the Queens, the brooding grief and
wrath of Brynhild, and the interview of Sigurd
with her — of all this, the most dramatic and best-
considered part of the tale, there is now no more
left that retains its metrical form than the few
snatches preserved by the Sagaman, though many
of the incidents are alluded to in other poems.
Chap. XXX. is met by the poem called the
Short Lay of Sigurd, which, fragmentary appa-
rently at the beginning, gives us something of
Brynhild's awakening wrath and jealousy, the
slaying of Sigurd, and the death of Brynhild
herself; this poem we have translated entire.
PREFACE. ix
The Fragments of the Lay of Brynhild are
what is left of a poem partly covering the same
ground as this last, but giving a different account
of Sigurd's slaying ; it is very incomplete, though
the Sagaman has drawn some incidents from it ;
the reader will find it translated in our second
part.
But before the death of the heroine we have
inserted entire into the text as chap. xxxi. the
First Lay of Gudrun, the most lyrical, the most
complete, and the most beautiful of all the Eddaic
poems; a poem that any age or language might
count among its most precious possessions.
From this point to the end of the Saga it keeps
closely to the Songs of Edda; in chap, xxxii.
the Sagaman has rendered into prose the Ancient
Lay of Gudrun, except for the beginning, which
gives again another account of the death of
Sigurd : this lay also we have translated.
The grand poem, called the Hell-ride of Bryn-
hild, is not represented directly by anything in the
prose, except that the Sagaman has supplied from
it a link or two wanting in the Lay of Sigrdrifa ;
it will be found translated in our second part.
The betrayal and slaughter of the Giukings or
X PREFACE.
Niblungs, and the fearful end of Atli and his
sons, and court, are recounted in two lays, called
the Lays of Atli ; the longest of these, the
Greenland Lay of Atli, is followed closely by
the Sagaman ; the shorter one we have trans-
lated.
The end of Gudrun, of her daughter by Sigurd,
and of her sons by her last husband Jonakr,
treated of in the last four chapters of the Saga,
are very grandly and poetically given in the songs
called the Whetting of Gudrun, and the Lay of
Hamdir, which are also among our translations.
These are all the songs of the Edda which the
Sagaman has dealt with ; but one other, the
Lament of Oddrun, we have translated on account
of its intrinsic merit.
As to the literary quality of this work we
might say much, but we think we may well trust
the reader of poetic insight to break through what-
ever entanglement of strange manners or unused
element may at first trouble him, and to meet the
nature and beauty with which it is filled : we
cannot doubt that such a reader will be intensely
touched by finding, amidst all its wildness and
remoteness, such startling realism, such subtilty.
PREFACE. xi
such close sympathy with all the passions that
may move himself to-day.
In conclusion, we must again say how strange
it seems to us, that this Volsung Tale, which
is in fact an unversified poem, should never before
have been translated into English. For this is
the Great Story of the North, which should be to
all our race what the Tale of Troy was to the
Greeks — to all our race first, and afterwards, when
the change of the world has made our race nothing
more than a name of what has been — a story too —
then should it be to those that come after us no
less than the Tale of Troy has been to us.
CONTENTS.
Preface . . . • • • v
Names, Qr^c. . . . ■ . ix
A Prologue in Verse . . . . xi
CHAP.
I. Of Sigijhe So7i of Odin . » . i
II. Of the Birth of Volsung, the Son of Rerir,
who was the Son ofSigi . . .3
III. Of the Sword that Sigimind, Volstcng's
Son, drew from the Branstock . . 6
IV. How King Siggeir wedded Signy, and
bade King Volsung and his Son to
Gothland . . . . .9
V. Of the Slaying of King Volsung . .11
VI. Of how Signy sent the Children of her and
Siggeir to Stgmitnd . . • 1 5
VII. Of the Birth of Sinfjotli the Son of Sig-
mund . . . . -17
VIII. The Death of King Siggeir aiid of Sig ny . 20
IX. How Helgi, the Son ofSigmund, won King
Hodbrod and his Realm, and Wedded
Sigrun . . . . -27
Iv CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE
X. The Ending of Sinfjotli, Signinnd^s Son . 32
XI. Of King Sigmimd's last Battle., and of how
he must yield up his S-dJord again . 35
XII. Of the Shards of the Sjuord Gram, and
how Hjordis went to King Alf . . 38
XIII. Of the Birth and Waxing of Sigurd Faf
tiir's-bane . . . . .42
XIV. Begin's tale of his Brothers, and of the
Gold called AndvarPs Hoard . . 46
XV. Of the Welding together of the Shards of
the Sword Gram . . . -50
XVI. The Froþhecy of Grifir . . -52
XVII. Of Sigurd's Avenging of Sigmund his
Father . . . . -53
XVIÍI. Of the Slaying of the Worm Fafnir . 59
XIX. Of the Slaying of Begin, Son of Hreidmar 64
XX. Of Sigurd's Meeting with Brynhild on the
Mojintain . . . . .69
XXI. More Wise Words of Brynhild . . 76
XXII. Of the Semblance and Array of Sigurd
Fafnir' s-bane . . . -78
XXIII. Sigurd comes to Hlymdale . . .80
XXIV. Sigurd sees Brynhild at Hlymdale . 82
XXV. Of the Dream ofGudrun, Giuki's Daughter 86
XXVI. Sigurd comes to the Giitkings and is
wedded to Gtidrun . . -91
XXVII. The Wooing of Brynhild . . .95
XXVIII. /ÍOW the Queens held angry co7iverse to-
gether at the Bathiiig . . .100
CONTENTS. XV
CHAP. PAGE
XXIX. Of Brynhild's Grief and Motifumg . 105
XXX. Of the Slaying of Sigtcrd Fafnir's-baue . 112
XXXI. Of the Latnentation of Gudnin over Si-
gitrd dead, as it is told in the ancient
Songs . . . . .117
XXXII. Of the Ending of Brynhild . . 125
XXXIU. Gndrnntueddedto Atli . . .129
XXXIV. Atli dids the Giukings to him . .134
XXXV. The Dreams of the Wives of the Giukings 138
XXXVI. Of the Journey of the Giukings to King
Atli ..... 140
XXXVII. The Battle in the Burg of King Atli . 143
XXXVIU. Of the Slaying of the Giukings . .146
XXXIX. The End of Atli and his Kin and Folk . 1 50
XL. Hoiu Gudrnn cast herself into the Sea, but
was brouglit asJiore again . -155
XLI. Of the Wedding and Slaying of Swanhild 156
XLII. Gitdrun sends her Sons to avenge Swan-
hild. . . . . -159
XLI 1 1. The Latter End of all the Kin of the
Giukings . . . . .161
SONGS FROM THE ELDER EDDA.
Part of the Second Lay of Helgi Hundings-
bane . . . . . . 167
Part of the Lay of Sigrdrifa . . • ^77
The Lay called the Short Lay of Sigurd . .182
CONTENTS.
PAGE
The Hell-Ride of Brynhild . . .203
Fragments of the Lay of Brynhild . . 208
The Second or A ncient Lay of Gudrun . 215
The Song of Atli . . . . .229
The Whetting of Gudrun . , . 243
The Lay of Hamdir . . . ,250
The Lament of Oddrun . . . 260
Notes ... . , . .271
Index . . . . . .273
THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO ARE MOST
NOTEWORTHY IN THIS STORY.
VOLSUNGS.
Sigt, son of Odin.
Rerir^ son of Sigi, king of Hunland.
Volsung, son of Rerir.
Siapmrnd. son 1 r ir i
„. ' , \ of Volsung.
oigny, daughter)
SinfjotU, son of Sigmund and Signy.
Ht'/gi, son of Sigmund by Borgny.
SIGURD FAFNIR'S-BANE, posthumous son of Sig-
mund by Hjordis.
Swanhild, his daughter, by Gudrun, Giuki's daughter.
People who deal with the Volsungs before
Sigurd meets Brynhild.
Si^eir, king of Gothland, husband of Signy.
Borg}iy, first wife of Sigmund.
Hjordis, his second wife.
King Ey/iini, her father.
Hjalprek, king of Denmark.
Alf, his son, second husband of Hjordis.
Rcgin, the king's smith.
Fafnir, his brother, turned into a dragon.
Otter, his brother, slain by Loki.
Hreidmar, the father of these brothers.
A/idvari, a dwarf, first owner of the hoard of the Nib-
lungs, on which he laid a curse when it was taken
from him by Loki.
b
xviii NAMES, ETC.
GlUKINGS OR NiELUXGS.
King Ginhi.
GrÍ7nJnld, liis wife.
Gwinar, "i
Hog)ii, '• sons of Giuki.
Guttorm, J
GuDRUN, daughter of Giuki, wife of Sigurd Fafnir's-
BANE.
BUDLUNGS.
Kifig Budli.
Atli, his son, second husband of Gudrun.
Brynhild, daughter of BudH, first betrothed and love of
Sigurd Fafnir's-bane, wife of Gunnar, son of
Giuki.
Bekkhild, daughter of Budli, wife of Heimir of Hlymdale.
Others who deal with Sigurd and the Giukings.
Heimir of Hlymdale, foster-father of Brynhild.
Glaumvor, second wife of Gunnar.
Kostbera, wife of Hogni.
Vingi, an evil counsellor of King Atli.
Niblung, the son of Hogni, who helps Gudrun in the
slaying of Atli.
/ormuurek, king of the Goths, husband of Swanhild.
Randvcr, his son.
Bikki, his evil counsellor.
Jonah; Gudrun's third husband.
Sorli, Ha?ndir, and ErJ>,Xht sons of Jonakrand Gudrun.
A PROLOGUE IN VERSE.
O, hearken, ye who speak the English Tongue,
How in a waste land ages long ago,
The very heart of the North bloomed into song
After long brooding o'er this tale of woe !
Hearken, and marvel how it might be so,
That such a sweetness so well crowned could be
Betwixt the ice-hills and the cold grey sea.
Or rather marvel not, that those should cling
Unto the thought of great lives passed away,
Whom God has stripped so bare of everything,
Save the one longing to wear through their day,
In fearless wise ; the hope the Gods to stay.
When at that last tide gathered wrong and hate
Shall meet blind yearning on the Fields of Fate.
Yea, in the first grey dawning of our race.
This ruth-crowned tangle to sad hearts was dear.
Then rose a seeming sun, the lift gave place
Unto a seeming heaven, far off, but clear ;
But that passed too, and afternoon is here ;
Nor was the morn so fruitful or so long
But we may hearken when ghosts moan of wrong.
t A PROLOGUE IN VERSE.
For as amid the clatter of the town
When eve comes on with unabated noise,
The soaring wind will sometimes drop adown
And bear unto our chamber the sweet voice
Of bells that 'mid the swallows do rejoice,
Half-heard, to make us sad, so we awhile
With echoed grief life's dull pain may beguile.
Naught vague, naught base our tale, that seems to say, —
' Be wide-eyed, kind ; curse not the hand that smites
Curse not the kindness of a past good day.
Or hope of love ; cast by all earth's delights,
For very love : through weary days and nights.
Abide thou, striving, howsoe'er in vain.
The inmost love of one more heart to gain ! '
So draw ye round and hearken, English Folk,
Unto the best tale pity ever wTought !
Of how from dark to dark bright Sigurd broke.
Of Brynhild's glorious soul with love distraught,
Of Gudrun's weary wandering unto naught,
Of utter love defeated utterly,
Of Grief too strong to give Love time to die !
William Morris.
THE STORY OF
THE VOLSUNGS AND NIBLUNGS.
CHAP. I.
Of Sigi, the So7i of Odin.
HERE begins the tale, and tells of a man who was
named Sigi, and called of men the son of Odin ;
another man withal is told of in the tale, hight Skadi, a
great man and mighty of his hands; yet was Sigi the
mightier and the higher of kin, according to the speech
of men of that time. Now Skadi had a thrall with
whom the story must deal somewhat, Bredi by name,
who was called after that work which he had to do ; in
prowess and might of hand he was equal to men who
were held more worthy, yea, and better than some
thereof
Now it is to be told that, on a time Sigi fared to the
hunting of the deer, and the thrall with him ; and they
hunted deer day-long till the evening ; and when they
gathered together their prey in the evening, lo, greater
and more by far was that which Bredi had slain than
Sigi's prey ; and this thing he much misliked, and he
said that great wonder it was that a very thrall should
out-do him in the hunting of deer : so he fell on him
2 THE STORY OF THE
and slew him, and buried the body of him thereafter in
a snow-drift.
Then he went home at evening tide and says that
Bredi had ridden away from him into the wild-wood.
" Soon was he out of my sight," he says, " and naught
more I wot of him."
Skadi misdoubted the tale of Sigi, and deemed that
this was a guile of his, and that he would have slain
Bredi. So he sent men to seek for him, and to such an
end came their seeking, that they found him in a certain
snow-drift ; then said Skadi, that men should call that
snow-drift Bredi's Drift from henceforth; and thereafter
have folk followed, so that in such wise they call every
drift that is right great.
Thus it is well seen that Sigi has slain the thrall
and murdered him ; so he is given forth to be a wolf in
holy places, and may no more abide in the land with
his father ; therewith Odin bare him fellowship from the
land, so long a way, that right long it was, and made no
stay till he brought him to certain war-ships. So Sigi
falls to lying out a-warring with the strength that his
father gave him or ever they parted ; and happy was he
in his warring, and ever prevailed, till he brought it so
about that he won by his wars land and lordship at the
last ; and thereupon he took to him a noble wife, and
became a great and mighty king, and ruled over the
land of the Huns, and was the greatest of warriors. He
had a son by his wife, who was called Rerir, who grew
up in his fathers house, and soon became great of
growth, and shapely.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS.
CHAP. II.
Of the Birth of Volstmg, the Son of Rerir, who was the
Son of Sigi.
NOW Sigi grew old, and had many to envy him, so
that at last those turned against him whom he
trusted most ; yea, even the brothers of his wife ; for
these fell on him at his unwariest, when there were few
with him to withstand them, and brought so many against
him, that they prevailed against him, and there fell Sigi
and all his folk with him. But Rerir, his son, was not
in this trouble, and he brought together so mighty a
strength of his friends and the great men of the land,
that he got to himself both the lands and kingdom of
Sigi his father ; and so now, when he deems that the
feet under him stand firm in his rule, then he calls to
mind that which he had against his mother's brothers,
who had slain his father. So the king gathers together
a mighty army, and therewith falls on his kinsmen,
deeming that if he made their kinship of small account,
yet none the less they had first wrought evil against
him. So he wrought his will herein, in that he departed
not from strife before he had slain all his father's
banesmen, though dreadful the deed seemed in every
wise. So now he gets land, lordship, and fee, and is
become a mightier man than his father before him.
4 THE STOR Y OF THE
Much wealth won in war gat Rerir to himself, and
wedded a wife withal, such as he deemed meet for him,
and long they lived together, but had no child to take
the heritage after them ; and ill content they both were
with that, and prayed the Gods with heart and soul that
they might get them a child. And so it is said that
Odin hears their prayer, and Freyia no less hearkens
wherewith they prayed unto her : so she, never lacking
for all good counsel, calls to her her casket-bearing
may, the daughter of Hrimnir the giant, and sets an
apple in her hand, and bids her bring it to the king.
She took the apple, and did on her the gear of a crow,
and went flying till she came whereas the king sat on a
mound, and there she let the apple fall into the lap of
the king ; but he took the apple, and deemed he knew
whereto it would avail ; so he goes home from the
mound to his own folk, and came to the queen, and
some deal of that apple she ate.
So, as the tale tells, the queen soon knew that she
was big with child, but a long time wore or ever she
might give birth to the child : so it befell that the king
must needs go to the wars, after the custom of kings,
that he may keep his own land in peace : and in this
journey it came to pass that Rerir fell sick and got his
death, being minded to go home to Odin, a thing much
desired of many folk in those days.
Now no otherwase it goes with the queen's sickness
than heretofore, nor may she be the lighter of her child,
and six winters wore away with the sickness still heavy
on her; so that at the last she feels that she may not
live long ; wherefore now she bade cut the child from
out of her ; and it was done even as she bade ; a man-
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 5
child was it, and great of growth from his birth, as might
well be ; and they say that the youngling kissed his mother
or ever she died ; but to him is a name given, and he is
called Volsung ; and he was king over Hunland in the
room of his father. From his early years he was big and
strong, and full of daring in all manly deeds and trials,
and he became the greatest of warriors, and of good haj^
in all the battles of his warfaring.
Now when he was fully come to man's estate,
Hrimnir the giant sends to him Ljod his daughter; she of
whom the tale told, that she brought the apple to Rerir,
Volsung's father. So Volsung weds her withal \ and
long they abode together with good hap and great love.
They had ten sons and one daughter, and their eldest
son was hight Sigmund, and their daughter Signy ; and
these two were twins, and in all wise the foremost and
the fairest of the children of Volsung the king, and
mighty, as all his seed was ; even as has been long told
from ancient days, and in tales of long ago, with the
greatest fame of all men, how that the Volsungs have
been great men and high-minded and far above the most
of men both in cunning and in prowess and all things
high and mighty.
So says the story that king Volsung let build a
noble hall in such a wise, that a big oak-tree stood
therein, and that the limbs of the tree blossomed fair
out over the roof of the hall, while below stood the
trunk within it, and the said trunk did men call Bran-
stock.
THE STORY OF THE
CHAP. III.
Of the Sword that Sigi/iiind, Votsung's soti, drew from the
Branstock.
THERE was a king called Siggeir, who ruled over
Gothland, a mighty king and of many folk \ he
went to meet Volsung, the king, and prayed him for
Signy his daughter to wife ; and the king took his talk
well, and his sons withal, but she was loth thereto, yet
she bade her father rule in this as in all other things that
concerned her ; so the king took such rede that he gave
her to him, and she was betrothed to King Siggeir ; and
for the fulfilling of the feast and the wedding, was King
Siggeir to come to the house of King Volsung. The
king got ready the feast according to his best might, and
when all things were ready, came the king's guests and
King Siggeir withal at the day appointed, and many a
man of great account had Siggeir with him.
The tale tells that great fires were made endlong the
hall, and the great tree aforesaid stood midmost thereof;
withal folk say that, whenas men sat by the fires in the
evening, a certain man came into the hall unknown of
aspect to all men ; and suchlike array he had, that over
him was a spotted cloak, and he was bare-foot, and had
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 7
linen- breeches knit tight even unto the bone, and he had
a sword in his hand as he went up to the Branstock, and
a slouched hat upon his head : huge he was, and seeming-
ancient, and one-eyed. So he drew his sword and
smote it into the tree-trunk 'so that it sank in up to the
hilts ; and all held back from greeting the man. Then
he took up the word, and said —
" Whoso draweth this sword from this stock, shall
have the same as a gift from me, and shall find in good
sooth that never bare he better sword in hand than is
this."
Therewith out went the old man from the hall, and
none knew who he was or whither he went.
Now men stand up, and none would fain be the last
to lay hand to the sword, for they deemed that he would
have the best of it who might first touch it ; so all the
noblest went thereto first, and then the others, one after
other; but none who came thereto might avail to pull it
out, for in nowise would it come away howsoever they
tugged at it ; but now up comes Sigmund, King Vol-
sung's son, and sets hand to the sword, and pulls it from
the stock, even as if it lay loose before him ; so good
that weapon seemed to all, that none thought he had
seen such a sword before, and Siggeir would fain buy
it of him at thrice its weight of gold, but Sigmund
said —
" Thou mightest have taken the sword no less than
I from there whereas it stood, if it had been thy lot to
bear it ; but now, since it has first of all fallen into my
hand, never shalt thou have it, though thou biddest
therefor all the gold thou hast."
8 THE STORY OF THE
King Siggeir grew wroth at those words, and deemed
Sigmund had answered him scornfully, but whereas he
was a wary man and a double-dealing, he made as if he
heeded this matter in nowise, yet that same evening
he thought how he might reward it, as was well seen
aftenvards.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS.
CHAP. IV.
How King Siggeir wedded Signy, and bade King Vohtmg
and his son to Gothland.
NOW it is to be told that Siggeir goes to bed by
Signy that night, and the next morning the
weather was fair ; then says King Siggeir that he will
not bide, lest the wind should wax, or the sea grow im-
passable \ nor is it said that Volsung or his sons letted
him herein, and that the less, because they saw that he
was fain to get him gone from the feast. But now says
Signy to her father —
" I have no will to go away with Siggeir, neither does
my heart smile upon him ; and I wot, by my fore-know-
ledge, and from the fetch of our kin, that from this
counsel will great evil fall on us if this wedding be not
speedily undone."
"Speak in no such wise, daughter!" said he ; "for
great shame will it be to him, yea, and to us also, to
break troth with him, he being sackless ; and in naught
may we trust him, and no friendship shall we have of
him, if these matters are broken off; but he will pay us
back in as evil wise as he may ; for that alone is seemly,
to hold truly to troth given."
So King Siggeir got ready for home, and before he
went from the feast he bade King Volsung, his father-in-
lo THE STORY OF THE
law, come see him in Gothland, and all his sons with
him, whenas three months should be overpast, and to
bring such following with him, as he would have, and as
he deemed meet for his honour ; and thereby will Siggeir
the king pay back for the shortcomings of the wedding-
feast, in that he would abide thereat but one night only,
a thing not according to the wont of men. So King Vol-
sung gave his word to come on the day named, and the
kinsmen-in-law parted, and Siggeir went home with his
wife.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS.
CHAP. V.
Of the Slaying of King Volsung.
NOW tells the tale of King Volsung and his sons
that they go at the time appointed to Gothland at
the bidding of King Siggeir, and put off from the land in
three ships, all well manned, and have a fair voyage, and
make Gothland late of an evening tide.
But that same night came Signy and called her
father and brothers to a privy talk, and told them what
she deemed King Siggeir was minded to do, and how
that he had drawn together an army no man may meet.
" And," says she, " he is minded to do guilefully by you ;
wherefore T bid you get ye gone back again to your own
land, and gather together the mightiest power ye may,
and then come back hither and avenge you ; neither go
ye now to your undoing, for ye shall surely fail not to
fall by his wiles if ye turn not on him even as I bid
you."
Then spake Volsung the king, " All people and
nations shall tell of the word I spake, yet being unborn,
wherein I vowed a vow that I would flee in fear from
neither fire nor the sword; even so have I done hitherto,
and shall I depart therefrom now I am old ? Yea withal
never shall the maidens mock these my sons at the
12 THE STORY OF THE
games, and cry out at them that they fear death ; once
alone must all men needs die, and from that season shall
none escape ; so my rede it is that we flee nowhither,
but do the work of our hands in as manly wise as we
may ; a hundred fights have I fought, and whiles I had
more, and whiles I had less, and yet ever had I the
victory, nor shall it ever be heard tell of me that I fled
away or prayed for peace."
Then Signy wept right sore, and prayed that she
might not go back to King Siggeir, but King Volsung
answered —
" Thou shalt surely go back to thine husband, and
abide wth him, howsoever it fares with us."
So Signy went home, and they abode there that
night ; but in the morning, as soon as it was day, Vol-
sung bade his men arise and go aland and make them
ready for battle ; so they went aland, all of them all-
armed, and had not long to wait before Siggeir fell on
them with all his army, and the fiercest fight there was
betAvixt them ; and Siggeir cried on his men to the onset
all he might ; and so the tale tells that King Volsung and
his sons went eight times right through Siggeir's folk
that day, smiting and hewing on either hand, but when
they would do so even once again. King Volsung fell
amidst his folk and all his men withal, saving his ten
sons, for mightier was the power against them than they
might withstand.
But now are all his sons taken, and laid in bonds and
led away ; and Signy was ware withal that her father was
slain, and her brothers taken and doomed to death ;
then she called King Siggeir apart to talk with her, and
said —
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 13
" This will I pray of thee, that thou let not slay my
brothers hastily, but let them be set awhile in the stocks,
for home to me comes the saw that says. Sweet to eye
while seen : but longer life I pray not for them, because
I wot well that my prayer will not avail me."
Then answered Siggeir —
" Surely thou art mad and witless, praying thus for
more bale for thy brothers than their present slaying ;
yet this will I grant thee, for the better it likes me the
more they must bear, and the longer their pain is or
ever death come to them."
Now he let it be done even as she prayed, and a
mighty beam was brought and set on the feet of those
ten brethren in a certain place of the wild-wood, and
there they sit day-long until night ; but at midnight, as
they sat in the stocks, there came on them a she-wolf
from out the wood ; old she was, and both great and evil
of aspect ; and the first thing she did was to bite one of
those brethren till he died, and then she ate him up
withal, and went on her way.
But the next morning Signy sent a man to the
brethren, even one whom she most trusted, to wot of
the tidings ; and when he came back he told her that
one of them was dead, and great and grievous she
deemed it, if they should all fare in like wise, and yet
naught might she avail them.
Soon is the tale told thereof : nine nights together
came the she-wolf at midnight, and each night slew and
ate up one of the brethren, until all were dead, save
Sigmund only ; so now, before the tenth night came,
Signy sent that trusty man to Sigmund, her brother, and
gave honey into his hand, bidding him do it over Sig-
14 THE STORY OF THE
mund's face, and set a little deal of it in his mouth ; so
he went to Sigmund and did as he was bidden, and then
came home again ; and so the next night came the she-
wolf according to her wont, and would slay him and eat
him even as his brothers ; but now she sniffs the breeze
from him, whereas he was anointed with the honey, and
licks his face all over with her tongue, and then thrusts
her tongue into the mouth of him. No fear he had
thereof, but caught the she-wolf's tongue betwixt his
teeth, and so hard she started back thereat, and pulled
herself away so mightily, setting her feet against the
stocks, that all was riven asunder ; but he ever held so
fast that the tongue came away by the roots, and thereof
she had her bane.
But some men say that this same she-wolf was the
mother of King Siggeir, who had turned herself into this
likeness by troll's lore and witchcraft.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS.
CHAP. VI.
Of how Signy sent the Children of her and Siggeir to
Signmnd.
NOW whenas Sigmund is loosed and the stocks are
broken, he dwells in the woods and holds himself
there ; but Signy sends yet again to wot of the tidings,
whether Sigmund were alive or no ; but when those who
were sent came to him, he told them all as it had betid,
and how things had gone betwixt him and the wolf; so
they went home and tell Signy the tidings ; but she goes
and finds her brother, and they take counsel in such
wise as to make a house underground in the wild-wood \
and so things go on a while, Signy hiding him there,
and sending him such things as he needed; but King
Siggeir deemed that all the Volsungs were dead.
Now Siggeir had two sons by his wife, whereof it is
told that when the eldest was ten winters old, Signy
sends him to Sigmund, so that he might give him help,
if he would in any wise strive to avenge his father ; so
the youngling goes to the wood and comes late in
evening tide to Sigmund's earth-house ; and Sigmund
welcomed him in seemly fashion, and said that he should
make ready their bread ; " but I," said he, " will go seek
firewood."
Therewith he gives the meal- bag into his hands
1 6 THE STORY OF THE
while he himself went to fetch firing ; but when he came
back the youngling had done naught at the bread-mak-
ing. Then asks Sigmund if the bread be ready —
Says the youngling, " I durst not set hand to the
meal-sack, because somewhat quick lay in the meal."
Now Sigmund deemed he wotted that the lad was of
no such heart as that he should be fain to have him for
his fellow ; and when he met his »ister, Sigmund said
that he had come no nigher to the aid of a man though
the youngling were with him.
Then said Signy, " Take him and kill him then ; for
why should such an one live longer ? " and even so he
did.
So this winter wears, and the next winter Signy sent
her next son to Sigmund ; and there is no need to make
a long tale thereof, for in like wise went all things, and
he slew the child by the counsel of Signy.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 17
CHAP. VII.
Of the Birth of Shfjotli the Son of Sig)niind.
SO on a tide it befell as Signy sat in her bower, that
there came to her a witch-wife exceeding cunning,
and Signy talked with her in such wise, " Fain am I,"
says she, " that we should change semblances together."
She says, " Even as thou wilt then."
And so by her wiles she brought it about that they
changed semblances, and now the witch-wife sits in
Sign/s place according to her rede, and goes to bed by
the king that night, and he knows not that he has other
than Signy beside him.
But the tale tells of Signy, that she fared to the earth-
house of her brother, and prayed him give her harbouring
for the night ; " For I have gone astray abroad in the
woods, and know not whither I am going."
So he said she might abide, and that he would not
refuse harbour to one lone woman, deeming that she
would scarce pay back his good cheer by tale-bearing :
so she came into the house, and they sat down to meat,
and his eyes were often on her, and a goodly and fair
woman she seemed to him ; but when they are full, then
he says to her, that he is right fain that they should have
1 8 THE STORY OF THE
but one bed that night ; she nowise turned away there-
from, and so for three nights together he laid her in bed
by him.
Thereafter she fared home, and found the witch-wife,
and bade her change semblances again, and she did
so.
Now as time wears, Signy brings forth a man-child,
who was named Sinfjotli, and when he grew up he was
both big and strong, and fair of face, and much like
unto the kin of the Volsungs, and he was hardly yet ten
winters old when she sent him to Sigmund's earth-house;
but this trial she had made of her other sons or ever she
had sent them to Sigmund, that she had sewed gloves on
to their hands through flesh and skin, and they had
borne it ill and cried out thereat ; and this she now did
to Sinfjotli, and he changed countenance in nowise
thereat. Then she flayed off" the kirtle so that the skin
came off" Avith the sleeves, and said that this would be
torment enough for him ; but he said —
" Full little would Volsung have felt such a smart
as this."
So the lad came to Sigmund, and Sigmund bade him
knead their meal up, while he goes to fetch firing ; so
he gave him the meal-sack, and then went after the
wood, and by then he came back had Sinfjotli made an
end of his baking. Then asked Sigmund if he had
found nothing in the meal.
" I misdoubted me that there was something quick
in the meal when I first fell to kneading of it, but I
have kneaded it all up together, both the meal and that
which was therein, whatsoever it was."
Then Sigmund laughed out, and said —
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 19
" Naught wilt thou eat of this bread to-night, for the
most deadly of worms hast thou kneaded up therewith."
Now Sigmund was so mighty a man that he might
eat venom and have no hurt therefrom ; but Sinfjotli
might abide whatso venom came on the outside of him,
but might neither eat nor drink thereof.
THE SI OR V OF THE
CHAP. VIII.
The Death of King Siggeir and of Signy.
THE tale tells that Sigmund thought Sinfjotli over
young to help him to his revenge, and \nll first
of all harden him with manly deeds ; so in summer-tide
they fare wide through the woods and slay men for their
wealth ; Sigmund deems him to take much after the kin
of the Volsungs, though he thinks that he is Siggeir's
son, and deems him to have the evil heart of his father,
with the might and daring of the Volsungs ; withal he
must needs think him in nowise a kinsome man, for full
oft would he bring Sigmund's WTongs to his memory, and
prick him on to slay King Siggeir.
Now on a time as they fare abroad in the woods for
the getting of wealth, they find a certain house, and two
men with great gold rings asleep therein : now these
twain were spell-bound skin-changers, and wolf-skins
were hanging up over them in the house ; and every
tenth day might they come out of those skins ; and they
were kings' sons : so Sigmund and Sinfjotli do the wolf-
skins on them, and then might they nowise come out of
them, though forsooth the same nature went with them
as heretofore; they howled as wolves howl, but both
knew the meaning of that howling ; they lay out in the
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 21
wild-wood, and each went his way; and a word they
made betwixt them, that they should risk the onset of
seven men, but no more, and that he who was first to be
set on should howl in wolfish wise : " Let us not depart
from this," says Sigmund, " for thou art young and over-
bold, and men will deem the quarry good, when they
take thee."
Now each goes his way, and when they were parted,
Sigmund meets certain men, and gives forth a wolf's
howl ; and when Sinfjotli heard it, he went straightway
thereto, and slew them all, and once more they parted.
But ere Sinfjotli has fared long through the woods,
eleven men meet him, and he wrought in such wise that
he slew them all, and was awearied therewith, and
crawls under an oak, and there takes his rest. Then
came Sigmund thither, and said —
" Why didst thou not call on me ? "
Sinfjotli said, " I was loth to call for thy help for the
slaying of eleven men."
Then Sigmund rushed at him so hard that he stag-
gered and fell, and Sigmund bit him in the throat.
Now that day they might not come out of their wolf-
skins : but Sigmund lays the other on his back, and
bears him home to the house, and cursed the wolf-gears
and gave them to the trolls. Now on a day he saw
where two weasels went, and how that one bit the other
in the throat, and then ran straightway into the thicket,
and took up a leaf and laid it on the wound, and
thereon his fellow sprang up quite and clean whole ; so
Sigmund went out and saw a raven flying with a blade
of that same herb to him ; so he took it and drew it
over Sinfjotli's hurt, and he straightway sprang up as
2 2 THE STORY OF THE
whole as though he had never been huit. Thereafter
they went home to their earth-house, and abode there
till the time came for them to put off the wolf-shapes ■
then they burnt them up with fire, and prayed that no
more hurt might come to any one from them ; but in
that uncouth guise they AVTOught many famous deeds in
the kingdom and lordship of King Siggeir.
Now when Sinfjotli was come to man's estate, Sig-
mund deemed he had tried him fully, and or ever a
long time has gone by he turns his mind to the avenging
of his father, if so it may be brought about; so on a
certain day the twain get them gone from their earth-
house, and come to the abode of King Siggeir late in the
evening, and go into the porch before the hall, wherein
were tuns of ale, and there they lie hid : now the queen
is ware of them, where they are, and is fain to meet
them ; and when they met they took counsel, and were
of one mind that Volsung should be revenged that same
night.
Now Signy and the king had two children of tender
age, who played with a golden toy on the floor, and
bowled it along the pavement of the hall, running along
with it ; but therewith a golden ring from off it trundles
away into the place where Sigmund and Sinijotli lay,
and off runs the little one to search for the same, and
beholds withal where two men are sitting, big and grimly
to look on, with overhanging helms and bright Avhite
byrnies ; so he runs up the hall to his father, and tells
him of the sight he has seen, and thereat the king mis-
doubts of some guile abiding him ; but Signy heard
their speech, and arose and took both the children, and
went out into the porch to them and said —
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 23
" Lo ye ! these younglings have bewrayed you ; come
now therefore and slay them ! "
Sigmund says, " Never will I slay thy children for
telling of where I lay hid."
But Sinfjotli made little enow of it, but drew his
sword and slew them both, and cast them into the hall
at King Siggeir's feet.
Then up stood the king and cried on his men to
take those who had lain privily in the porch through
the night. So they ran thither and would lay hands on
them, but they stood on their defence well and manly,
and long he remembered it who was the nighest to
them ; but in the end they were borne down by many
men and taken, and bonds were set upon them, and they
were cast into fetters wherein they sit night long.
Then the king ponders what longest and worst of
deaths he shall mete out to them ; and when morning
came he let make a great barrow of stones and turf ; and
when it was done, let set a great flat stone midmost
inside thereof, so that one edge was aloft, the other
alow ; and so great it was that it went from wall to wall,
so that none might pass it.
Now he bids folk take Sigmund and Sinfjotli and
set them in the barrow, on either side of the stone, for
the worse for them he deemed it, that they might hear
each the other's speech, and yet that neither might pass
one to the other. But now, while they were covering
in the barrow with the turf-slips, thither came Signy,
bearing straw with her, and cast it down to Sinfjotli, and
bade the thralls hide this thing from the king ; they said
yea thereto, and therewithal was the barrow closed in.
But when night fell, Sinfjotli said to Sigmund, " Be-
24 THE STORY OF THE
like we shall scarce need meat for a while, for here has
the queen cast swne's flesh into the barrow, and wrapped
it round about on the outer side with straw."
Therewith he handles the flesh and finds that therein
was thrust Sigmund's sword ; and he knew it by the
hilts, as mirk as it might be in the barrow, and tells Sig-
mund thereof, and of that were they both fain enow.
Now Sinfjotli drave the point of the sword up into
the big stone, and drew it hard along, and the sword bit
on the stone. With that Sigmund caught the sword by
the point, and in this wise they sawed the stone between
them, and let not or all the sawing was done that need
be done, even as the song sings :
" Sinfjotli sawed
And Sigmund sawed,
Atwain with main
The stone was done."
Now are they both together loose in the barrow, and
soon they cut both through stone and through iron, and
bring themselves out thereof Then they go home to
the hall, whenas all men slept there, and bear wood to
the hall, and lay fire therein ; and withal the folk therein
are waked by the smoke, and by the hall burning over
their heads.
Then the king cries out, "Who kindled this fire, I
bum withal?"
" Here am I," says Sigmund, " with Sinfjotli, my
sister's son ; and we are minded that thou shalt wot well
that all the Volsungs are not yet dead."
Then he bade his sister come out, and take all good
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 25
things at his hands, and great honour, and fair atone-
ment in that wise, for all her griefs.
But she answered, " Take heed now, and consider, if
I have kept King Siggeir in memory, and his slaying of
Volsung the king ! I let slay both my children, whom I
deemed worthless for the revenging of our father, and I
went into the wood to thee in a witch-wife's shape \ and
now behold, Sinfjotli is the son of thee and of me both !
and therefore has he this so great hardihood and fierce-
ness, in that he is the son both of Volsung's son and
Volsung's daughter ; and for this, and for naught else,
have I so wrought, that King Siggeir might get his bane
at last ; and all these things have I done that vengeance
might fall on him, and that I too might not live long ;
and merrily now will I die with King Siggeir, though I
was naught merry to wed him."
Therewith she kissed Sigmund her brother, and Sinf-
jotli, and went back again into the fire, and there she
died with King Siggeir and all his good men.
But the two kinsmen gathered together folk and
ships, and Sigmund went back to his father's land, and
drave away thence the king, who had set himself down
there in the room of king Volsung.
So Sigmund became a mighty king and far-famed,
wise and high-minded : he had to wife one named
Borghild, and two sons they had between them, one
named Helgi and the other Hamund ; and when Helgi
was bom, Noms came to him, and spake over him, and
said that he should be in time to come the most re-
nowned of all kings. Even therewith was Sigmund
come home from the wars, and so therewith he gives
him the name of Helgi, and these matters as tokens
2 0 THE STORY OF THE
thereof, Land of Rings, Sun-litten Hill, and Sharp-shearing
Sword, and Avithal prayed that he might grow of great
fame, and like unto the kin of the Volsungs.
And so it was that he grew up high-minded, and
well-beloved, and above all other men in all prowess ;
and the story tells that he went to the wars when he was
fifteen winters old. Helgi was lord and ruler over the
army, but Sinfjotli was gotten to be his fellow herein \
and so the twain bare sway thereover.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 27
CHAP. IX.
How Hclgi, the son of Sigmund, ivon King Hodbrod and
his Realm, and zuedded Sigrun.
NOW the tale tells that Helgi in his warring met a
king hight Hunding, a mighty king, and lord of
many men and many lands ; they fell to battle together,
and Helgi went forth mightily, and such was the end of
that fight that Helgi had the victory, but King Hunding
fell and many of his men with him ; but Helgi is deemed
to have grown greatly in fame because he had slain so
mighty a king.
Then the sons of Hunding draw together a great
army to avenge their father. Hard was the fight betwixt
them ; but Helgi goes through the folk of those brothers
unto their banner, and there slays these sons of Hund-
ing, Alf and Eyolf, Herward and Hagbard, and wins
there a great victory.
Now as Helgi fared from the fight, he met a many
women right fair and worthy to look on, who rode in
exceeding noble array ; but one far excelled them all ;
then Helgi asked them the name of that their lady and
queen, and she named herself Sigrun, and said she was
daughter of King Hogni.
Then said Helgi, " Fare home with us : good welcome
shall ye have ! "
28 THE STORY OF THE
Then said that king's daughter, " Other work lies
before us than to drink with thee."
" Yea, and what work, king's daughter? " said Helgi.
She answers, " King Hogni has promised me to Hod-
brod, the son of King Granmar, but I have vowed a
vow that I will have him to my husband no more than if
he were a crow's son and not a king's ; and yet udll the
thing come to pass, but and if thou standest in the way
thereof, and goest against him with an army, and takest
me away -w-ithal ; for verily with no king would I rather
bide on bolster than with thee."
"Be of good cheer, king's daughter," says he, "for
cartes he and I shall try the matter, or ever thou be
given to him ; yea, we shall behold which may prevail
against the other ; and hereto I pledge my life."
Thereafter, Helgi sent men with money in their
hands to summon his folk to him, and all his power is
called together to Red-Berg : and there Helgi abode
till such time as a great company came to him from
Hedinsey ; and therewithal came mighty power from
Norvi Sound aboard great and fair ships. Then King
Helgi called to him the captain of his ships, who was
hight Leif, and asked him if he had told over the tale
of his army.
"A thing not easy to tell, lord," says he, "on the
ships that came out of Norvi Sound are twelve thousand
men, and otherwhere are half as many again."
Then bade King Helgi turn into the firth, called Va-
rin's-firth, and they did so : but now there fell on them
so fierce a storai and so huge a sea, that the beat of the
waves on board and bow was to hearken to like as the
clashing together of high hills broken.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 29
But Helgi bade men fear naught, nor take in any
sail, but rather hoist every rag higher than heretofore ;
but httle did they miss of foundering or ever they made
land ; then came Sigrun, daughter of King Hogni, down
on to the beach with a great army, and turned them away
thence to a good haven called Gnipalund ; but the lands-
men see what has befallen and come down to the sea-
shore. The brother of King Hodbrod, lord of a land
called Swarin's Cairn, cried out to them, and asked them
who was captain over that mighty army. Then up
stands Sinfjotli, with a helm on his head, bright shining
as glass, and a bymy as white as snow ; a spear in his
hand, and thereon a banner of renown, and a gold-
rimmed shield hanging before him ; and well he knew
with what words to speak to kings —
" Go thou and say, when thou hast made an end of
feeding thy swine and thy dogs, and when thou beholdest
thy wife again, that here are come the Volsungs, and in
this company may King Helgi be found, if Hodbrod be
fain of finding him, for his game and his joy it is to fight
and win fame, while thou art kissing the handmaids by
the fire-side."
Then answered Granmar, " In nowise knowest thou
how to speak seemly things, and to tell of matters re-
membered from of old, whereas thou layest lies on chiefs
and lords ; most like it is that thou must have long been
nourished with wolf-meat abroad in the wild-woods, and
hast slain thy brethren ; and a marvel it is to behold
that thou darest to join thyself to the company of good
men and true, thou, who hast sucked the blood of many
a cold corpse."
Sinfjotli answered, " Dim belike is grown thy memory
30 THE STORY OF THE
now, of how thou wert a witch-wife on Varinsey, and
wouldst fain have a man to thee, and chose me to that
same office of all the world ; and how thereafter thou
wert a Valkyria in Asgarth, and it well-nigh came to
this, that for thy sweet sake should all men fight ; and
nine wolf-whelps I begat on thy body in Lowness, and
was the father to them all."
Granmar answers, " Great skill of lying hast thou ;
yet belike the father of naught at all mayst thou be,
since thou wert gelded by the giant's daughters of Thras-
ness ; and lo thou art the stepson of King Siggeir, and
wert wont to lie abroad in wilds and woods with the kin
of wolves ; and unlucky was the hand wherewith thou
slewest thy brethren, making for thyself an exceeding
evil name."
Said Sinijotli, " Mindest thou not then, when thou
wert stallion Grani's mare, and how I rode thee an
amble on Bravoll, and that afterwards thou wert giant
Golnir's goat-herd ? "
Granmar says, " Rather would I feed fowls with
the flesh of thee than -wrangle any longer with thee."
Then spake King Helgi, " Better were it for ye, and
a more manly deed, to fight, rather than to speak such
things as it is a shame even to hearken to j Granmar's
sons are no friends of me and of mine, yet are they
hardy men none the less."
So Granmar rode away to meet King Hodbrod, at a
stead called Sunfells, and the horses of the twain were
named Sveipud and Sveggjud. The brothers met in the
castle-porch, and Granmar told Hodbrod of the war-
news. King Hodbrod was clad in a bymy, and had his
helm on his head : he asked —
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS.
31
" What men are anigh, why look ye so wrathful ? "
Granmar says, " Here are come the Volsungs, and
twelve thousand men of them are afloat off the coast,
and seven thousand are at the island called Sok, but at
the stead called Grindur is the greatest company of all,
and now I deem withal that Helgi and his fellowship
have good will to give battle."
Then said the king, " Let us send a message through
all our realm, and go against them, neither let any who
is fain of fight sit idle at home ; let us send word to the
sons of Ring, and to King Hogni, and to Alf the Old,
for they are mighty warriors."
So the hosts met at Wolfstone, and fierce fight befell
there ; Helgi rushed forth through the host of his foes,
and many a man fell there ; at last folk saw a great
company of shield-maidens, like burning flames to look
on, and there was come Sigrun, the king's daughter.
Then King Helgi fell on King Hodbrod, and smote him,
and slew him even under his very banner ; and Sigrun
cried out —
" Have thou thanks for thy so manly deed ! now
shall we share the land between us, and a day of great
good hap this is to me, and for this deed shalt thou
get honour and renown, in that thou hast felled to earth
so mighty a king."
So Helgi took to him that realm and dwelt there
long, when he had wedded Sigrun, and became a king of
great honour and renown, though he has naught more
to do with this story.
THE STORY OF THE
CHAP. X.
The Ending of Sinfjotli, Sig7nund's Son.
NOW the Volsungs fare back home, and have
gained great renowTi by these deeds. But Sinf-
jotli betook himself to warfare anew ; and therewith he
had sight of an exceeding fair woman, and yearned
above all things for her ; but that same woman was
wooed also of the brother of Borghild, the king's wife :
and this matter they fought out betwixt them, and Sinf-
jotli slew that king ; and thereafter he harried far and
wide, and had many a battle and ever gained the day ;
and he became hereby honoured and renowned above
all men ; but in autumn tide he came home with many
ships and abundant wealth.
Then he told his tidings to the king his father, and
he again to the queen, and she for her part bids him
get him gone from the realm, and made as if she would
in nowise see him. But Sigmund said he would not
drive him away, and offered her atonement of gold and
great wealth for her brother's life, albeit, he said he
had never erst given weregild to any for the slaying of a
man, but no fame it was to uphold WTong against a
woman.
So seeing she might not get her own way herein, she
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. ^i,
said, " Have thy will in this matter, O my lord, for it is
seemly so to be."
And now she holds the funeral feast for her brother
by the aid and counsel of the king, and makes ready all
things therefor in the best of wise, and bade thither
many great men.
At that feast, Borghild the queen bare the drink to
folk, and she came over against Sinfjotli with a great
horn, and said —
" Fall to now and drink, fair stepson ! "
Then he took the horn to him, and looked therein,
and said —
" Nay, for the drink is charmed drink."
Then said Sigmund, " Give it unto me then ; " and
therewith he took the horn and drank it off.
But the queen said to Sinfjotli, "Why must other
men needs drink thine ale for thee ? " And she came
again the second time with the horn, and said, " Come
now and drink ! " and goaded him with many words.
And he took the horn, and said —
" Guile is in the drink."
And thereon, Sigmund cried out —
" Give it then unto me ! "
Again, the third time, she came to him, and bade
him drink off his drink, if he had the heart of a Volsung,
then he laid hand on the horn, but said —
" Venom is therein."
" Nay, let the lip strain it out then, O son," quoth
Sigmund ; and by then was he exceeding drunk with
drink, and therefore spake he in that wise.
So Sinfjotli drank, and straightway fell down dead
to the ground.
D
34 THE STOR V OF THE
Sigmund rose up, and sorrowed nigh to death over
him ; then he took the corpse in his arms and fared
away to the wood, and went till he came to a certain
firth ; and there he saw a man in a little boat ; and that
man asked if he would be wafted by him over the firth,
and he said yea thereto ; but so little was the boat, that
they might not all go in it at once, so the corpse was
first laid therein, while Sigmund went by the firth-side.
But therewith the boat and the man therein vanished
away from before Sigmund's eyes.
So thereafter Sigmund turned back home, and drave
away the queen, and a little after she died. But Sig-
mund the king yet ruled his realm, and is deemed ever
the greatest champion and king of the old law.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 35
CHAP. XI.
Of King Sigmund's last Battle, and of how he must yield
up his Sword again.
THERE was a king called Eylimi, mighty and of
great fame, and his daughter was called Hjordis,
the fairest and wisest of womankind ; and Sigmund
hears it told of her that she was meet to be his wife, yea
if none else were. So he goes to the house of King
Eylimi, who would make a great feast for him, if so be
he comes not thither in the guise of a foe. So messages
were sent from one to the other that this present journey
was a peaceful one, and not for war ; so the feast was
held in the best of wise and with many a man thereat;
fairs were in every place established for King Sigmund,
and all things else were done to the aid and comfort of
his journey : so he came to the feast, and both kings
hold their state in one hall ; thither also was come King
Lyngi, son of King Hunding, and he also is a-wooing
the daughter of King Eylimi.
Now the king deemed he knew that the twain had
come thither but for one errand, and thought withal that
war and trouble might be looked for from the hands of
him who brought not his end about ; so he spake to his
daughter, and said —
" Thou art a wise woman, and I have spoken it.
36 THE STORY OF THE
that thou alone shalt choose a husband for thyself;
choose therefore between these two kings, and my rede
shall be even as thine."
" A hard and troublous matter," says she ; " yet will
I choose him who is of greatest fame. King Sigmund to
wit, albeit he is well stricken in years."
So to him was she betrothed, and King Lyngi gat
him gone. Then was Sigmund wedded to Hjordis, and
now each day was the feast better and more glorious
than on the day before it. But thereafter Sigmund went
back home to Hunland, and King Eylimi, his father-in-
law, with him, and King Sigmund betakes himself to the
due ruling of his realm.
But King Lyngi and his brethren gather an army
together to fall on Sigmund, for as in all matters they
were wont to have the worser lot, so did this bite the
sorest of all ; and they would fain prevail over the might
and pride of the Volsungs. So they came to Hunland,
and sent King Sigmund word how that they would not
steal upon him, and that they deemed he would scarce
slink away from them. So Sigmund said he would come
and meet them in battle, and drew his power together ;
but Hjordis was borne into the wood with a certain
bondmaid, and mighty wealth went with them ; and
there she abode the while they fought.
Now the vikings rushed from their ships in numbers
not to be borne up against, but Sigmund the King, and
Eylimi, set up their banners, and the horns blew up to
battle ; but King Sigmund let blow the horn his father
erst had had, and cheered on his men to the fight, but
his army was far the fewest.
Now was that battle fierce and fell, and tliough Sig-
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 37
mund were old, yet most hardily he fought, and was ever
the foremost of his men ; no shield or byrny might hold
against him, and he went ever through the ranks of his
foemen on that day, and no man might see how things
would fare between them ; many an arrow and many a
spear was aloft in air that day, and so his spae-wrights
wrought for him that he got no wound, and none can
tell over the tale of those who fell before him, and both
his arms were red with blood, even to the shoulders.
But now whenas the battle had dured a while, there
came a man into the fight clad in a blue cloak, and with
a slouched hat on his head, one-eyed he was, and bare
a bill in his hand ; and he came against Sigmund the
King, and have up his bill against him, and as Sigmund
smote fiercely with the sword it fell upon the bill and
burst asunder in the midst : thenceforth the slaughter
and dismay turned to his side, for the good-hap of King
Sigmund had departed from him, and his men fell fast
about him ; naught did the king spare himself, but the
rather cheered on his men ; but even as the saw says,
No might against many, so was it now proven ; and in
this fight fell Sigmund the King, and King Eylimi, his
father-in-law, in the fore-front of their battle, and there-
with the more part of their folk.
38 THE STORY OF THE
CHAP. XII.
Of the Shards of the Sruord Gram, and how Hjordis went
to King Alf
NOW King Lyngi made for the king's abode, and
was minded to take the king's daughter there,
but failed herein, for there he found neither wife nor
wealth : so he fared through all the realm, and gave his
men rule thereover, and now deemed that he had slain
all the kin of the Volsungs, and that he need dread them
no more from henceforth.
Now Hjordis went amidst the slain that night of the
battle, and came whereas lay king Sigmund, and asked
if he might be healed ; but he answered —
" Many a man lives after hope has grown little ; but
my good-hap has departed from me, nor will I suffer
myself to be healed, nor wills Odin that I should ever
draw sword again, since this my sword and his is broken ;
lo now, I have waged war while it was his will."
" Naught ill would I deem matters," said she, " if
thou mightest be healed and avenge my father."
The king said, " That is fated for another man ;
behold now, thou art great with a man-child ; nourish
him well and with good heed, and the child shall be the
noblest and most famed of all our kin : and keep well
withal the shards of the sword : thereof shall a goodly
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 39
sword be made, and it shall be called Gram, and our son
shall bear it, and shall work many a great work there-
with, even such as eld shall never minish ; for his name
shall abide and flourish as long as the world shall
endure : and let this be enow for thee. But now I grow
weary with my wounds and I will go see our kin that
have gone before me."
So Hjordis sat over him till he died at the day-
dawning ; and then she looked, and behold, there came
many ships sailing to the land : then she spake to the
handmaid —
" Let us now change raiment, and be thou called by
my name, and say that thou art the king's daughter."
And thus they did ; but now the vikings behold the
great slaughter of men there, and see where two women
fare away thence into the wood ; and they deem that
some great tidings must have befallen, and they leaped
ashore from out their ships. Now the captain of these
folks was Alf, son of Hjalprek, king of Denmark, who
was sailing with his power along the land. So they
came into the field among the slain, and saw how many
men lay dead there ; then the king bade go seek for the
women and bring them thither, and they did so. He
asked them what women they were ; and, little as the
thing seems like to be, the bondmaid answered for the
twain, telling of the fall of King Sigmund and King
Eylimi, and many another great man, and who they were
withal who had -wrought the deed. Then the king asks
if they wotted where the wealth of the king was be-
stowed ; and then says the bondmaid —
" It may well be deemed that we know full surely
thereof."
40 THE STOR V OF THE
And therewith she guides them to the place where the
treasure lay; and there they found exceeding great
wealth ; so that men deem they have never seen so
many things of price heaped up together in one place.
All this they bore to the ships of King Alf, and Hjor-
dis and the bondmaid went with them. Therewith
these sail away to their own realm, and talk how that
surely on that field had fallen the most renowned of
kings.
So the king sits by the tiller, but the women abide
in the forecastle ; but talk he had with the women and
held their counsels of much account.
In such -wise the king came home to his realm with
great wealth, and he himself was a man exceeding
goodly to look on. But when he had been but a little
while at home, the queen, his mother, asked him why
the fairest of the two women had the fewer rings and the
less worthy attire.
" I deem," she said, " that she whom ye have held
of least account is the noblest of the t\vain."
He answered : " I too have misdoubted me, that she
is little like a bondwoman, and when we first met, in
seemly wise she greeted noble men. Lo now, we will
make a trial of the thing."
So on a time as men sat at the drink, the king sat
down to talk with the women, and said —
" In what wise do ye note the wearing of the hours,
whenas night grows old, if ye may not see the lights of
heaven ? "
Then says the bondwoman, " This sign have I, that
whereas in my youth I was wont to drink much in the
dawn, so now when I no longer use that manner, I am
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 41
jy^et wont to wake up at that very same tide, and by that
token do I know thereof."
Then the king laughed and said, " 111 manners for a
king's daughter!" And therewith he turned to Hjordis,
and asked her even the same question ; but she an-
swered —
" My father erst gave me a little gold ring of such
nature, that it groM^eth cold on my finger in the day-
dawning ; and that is the sign that I have to know
thereof."
The king answered : " Enow of gold there, where a
very bondmaid bore it ! but come now, thou hast been
long enow hid from me ; yet if thou hadst told me all
from the beginning, I would have done to thee as though
we had both been one king's children : but better than
thy deeds will I deal with thee, for thou shalt be my
wife, and due jointure will I pay thee whenas thou hast
borne me a child."
She spake therewith and told out the whole truth
about herself: so there was she held in great honour,
and deemed the worthiest of women.
42 THE STORY OF THE
CHAP. XIII.
Of the Birth ivid Waxing of Sigurd Fafnir'' s-banc.
THE tale tells that Hjordis brought forth a man-child,
who was straightly borne before King Hjalprek,
and then was the king glad thereof, when he saw the
keen eyes in the head of him, and he said that few men
would be equal to him or like unto him in any wise. So
he was sprinkled with water, and had to name Sigurd,
of whom all men speak with one speech and say that
none was ever his like for growth and goodliness. He
was brought up in the house of King Hjalprek in great
love and honour; and so it is, that whenso all the
noblest men and greatest kings are named in the olden
tales, Sigurd is ever put before them all, for might and
prowess, for high mind and stout heart, wherewith he was
far more abundantly gifted than any man of the northern
parts of the wide world.
So Sigurd waxed in King Hjalprek's house, and
there was no child but loved him; through him was
Hjordis betrothed to King Alf, and jointure meted to
her.
Now Sigurd's foster-father was hight Regin, the son
of Hreidmar ; he taught him all manner of arts, the
chess play, and the lore of runes, and the talking of
many tongues, even as the wont was with kings' sons in
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 43
those days. But on a day when they were together,
Regin asked Sigurd, if he knew how much wealth his
father had owned, and who had the ward thereof; Sigiu'd
answered, and said that the kings kept the ward thereof.
Said Regin, "Dost thou trust them all utterly?"
Sigurd said, "It is seemly that they keep it till I
may do somewhat therewith, for better they wot how to
guard it than I do."
Another time came Regin to talk to Sigurd, and
said —
"A marvellous thing truly that thou must needs be
a horse-boy to the kings, and go about like a running
knave."
" Nay," said Sigurd, " it is not so, for in all things
I have my will, and whatso thing I desire is granted me
with good will."
" Well, then," said Regin, " ask for a horse of
them."
" Yea," quoth Sigurd, " and that shall I have, whenso
I have need thereof"
Thereafter Sigurd went to the king, and the king
said — ■
"What wilt thou have of us?"
Then said Sigurd, " I would even a horse of thee for
my disport."
Then said the king, " Choose for thyself a horse,
and whatso thing else thou desirest among my matters."
So the next day went Sigurd to the wood, and met
on the way an old man, long-bearded, that he knew not,
who asked him whither away.
Sigurd said, " I am minded to choose me a horse j
come thou, and counsel me thereon."
44 THE STOR V OF THE
" Well, then," said he, " go we and drive them to the
river which is called Busil-tarn."
They did so and drave the horses down into the
deeps of the river, and all swam back to land but one
horse ; and that horse Sigurd chose for himself; grey he
was of hue, and young of years, great of growth, and
fair to look on, nor had any man yet crossed his
back.
Then spake the grey-beard, " From Sleipnir's kin is
this horse come, and he must be nourished heedfully,
for it ynVi be the best of all horses;" and therewithal he
vanished away.
So Sigurd called the horse Grani, the best of all the
horses of the world ; nor was the man he met other than
Odin himself
Now yet again spake Regin to Sigurd, and said —
" Not enough is thy wealth, and I grieve right sore
that thou must needs run here and there like a churl's
son ; but I can tell thee where there is much wealth for
the A^nning, and great name and honour to be won in
the getting of it."
Sigurd asked where that might be, and who had
watch and ward over it.
Regin answered, "Fafnir is his name, and but a
little way hence he lies, on the waste of Gnita-heath ; and
when thou comest there thou mayst well say that thou
hast never seen more gold heaped together in one place,
and that none might desire more treasure, though he
were the most ancient and famed of all kings."
" Young am I," says Sigiu-d, " yet know I the fashion
of this worm, and how that none durst go against him.,
so huge and evil is he."
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 45
Regin said, " Nay it is not so, the fashion and the
growth of him is even as of other Hngworms, and an over
great tale men make of it ; and even so would thy fore-
fathers have deemed ; but thou, though thou be of the
kin of the Volsungs, shalt scarce have the heart and
mind of those, who are told of as the first in all deeds of
fame."
Sigurd said, " Yea, belike I have little of their hardi-
hood and prowess, but thou hast naught to do, to lay
a coward's name upon me, when I am scarce out of my
childish years. Why dost thou tgg me on hereto so
busily ? "
Regin said, " Therein lies a tale which I must needs
tell thee."
" Let me hear the same," said Sigurd.
46 THE STORY OF THE
. CHAP. XIV.
Rcgin's tale of his Brothers, and of the Gold called
Andvari's Hoard.
THUS the tale begins," said Regin, " Hreidmar was
my father's name, a mighty man and a wealthy :
and his first son was . named Fafnir, his second Otter,
and I was the third, and the least of them all both for
prowess and good conditions, but I was cunning to
work in iron, and silver, and gold, whereof I could make
matters that availed somewhat. Other skill my brother
Otter followed, and had another nature withal, for he
was a great fisher, and above other men herein ; in that
he had the likeness of an otter by day, and dwelt ever
in the river, and bare fish to bank in his mouth, and his
prey would he ever bring to our father, and that availed
him much : for the most part he kept him in his otter-
gear, and then he would come home, and eat alone,
and slumbering, for on the dry land he might see
naught. But Fafnir was by far the greatest and grim-
mest, and would have all things about called his.
" Now," says Regin, " there was a dwarf called
Andvari, who ever abode in that force, which was called
Andvari's force, in the likeness of a pike, and got meat
for himself, for many fish there were in the force ; now
Otter, my brother, was ever wont to enter into the force,
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 47
and bring fish aland, and lay them one by one on the
bank. And so it befell that Odin, Loki, and Hœnir, as
they went their ways, came to Andvari's force, and Otter
had taken a salmon, and ate it slumbering upon the
river bank ; then Loki took a stone and cast it at Otter,
so that he gat his death thereby ; the gods were well
content with their prey, and fell to paying off the otter's
skin ; and in the evening they came to Hreidmar's
house, and showed him what they had taken : thereon
he laid hands on them, and doomed them to such ran-
som, as that they should fill the otter skin with gold, and
cover it over without with red gold ; so they sent Loki
to gather gold together for them ; he came to Ran, and
got her net, and went therewith to Andvari's force, and
cast the net before the pike, and the pike ran into the
net and was taken. Then said Loki —
' What fish of all fishes.
Swims strong in the flood.
But hath learnt little wit to beware ?
Thine head must thou buy,
From abiding in hell.
And find me the wan waters flame.'
He answered
" Andvari folk call me,
Call Oinn my father.
Over many a force have I fared ;
For a Norn of ill-luck,
This life on me lay
Through wet ways ever to wade.
48 THE STOR Y OF THE
" So Loki beheld the gold of Andvari, and when he
had given up the gold, he had but one ring left, and that
also Loki took from him ; then the dwarf went into a
hollow of the rocks, and cried out, that that gold-ring,
yea and all the gold withal, should be the bane of every
man who should own it thereafter.
" Now the gods rode with the treasure to Hreidmar,
and fulfilled the otter-skin, and set it on its feet, and
they must cover it over utterly with gold : but when this
was done then Hreidmar came forth, and beheld yet one
of the muzzle hairs, and bade them cover that withal ;
then Odin drew the ring, Andvari's loom, from his hand,
and covered up the hair therewith ; then sang Loki —
" Gold enow, good enow,
A great weregild, thou hast.
That my head in good hap I may hold.
But thou and thy son
Are naught fated to thrive.
The bane shall it be of you both.
" Thereafter," says Regin, " Fafnir slew his father and
murdered him, nor got I aught of the treasure, and so
evil he grew, that he fell to lying abroad, and begrudged
any share in the wealth to any man, and so became the
worst of all worms, and ever now lies brooding upon
that treasure : but for me, I went to the king and be-
came his master-smith ; and thus is the tale told of how
I lost the heritage of my father, and the weregild for my
brother."
So spake Regin ; but since that time gold is called
Otter-gild, and for no other cause than this.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 49
But Sigurd answered, " Much hast thou lost, and
exceeding evil have thy kinsmen been ! but now, make
a sword by thy craft, such a sword as that none can
be made like unto it ; so that I may do great deeds
therewith, if my heart avail thereto, and thou wouldst
have me slay this mighty dragon."
Regin says, " Trust me well herein ; and with that
same sword shalt thou slay Fafnir "
50 THE STORY OF THE
CHAP. XV.
Of the Welding together of the Shards of the Snwrd Gram.
SO Regin makes a sword, and gives it into Sigurd's
hands. He took the sword, and said —
" Behold thy smithying, Regin ! " and therewith
smote it into the anvil, and the sword brake ; so he cast
down the brand, and bade him forge a better.
Then Regin forged another sword, and brought it to
Sigurd, who looked thereon.
Then said Regin, " Belike thou art well content
therewith, hard master though thou be in smithying."
So Sigurd proved the sword, and brake it even as
the first ; then he said to Regin —
" Ah, art thou, mayhappen, a traitor and a liar like
to those former kin of thine ? "
Therewith he went to his mother, and she welcomed
him in seemly wise, and they talked and drank together.
Then spake Sigurd, " Have I heard aright, that
King Sigmund gave thee the good sword Gram in two
pieces?"
" True enough," she said.
So Sigurd said, " Deliver them into my hands, for I
would have them."
She said he looked like to win great fame, and gave
him the sword. Therewith went Sigurd to Regin, and
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 51
bade him make a good sword thereof as he best might ;
Regin grew wroth thereat, but went into the smithy
with the pieces of the sword, thinking well meanwhile
that Sigurd pushed his head far enow into the matter of
smithying. So he made a sword, and as he bore it
forth from the forge, it seemed to the smiths as though
fire burned along the edges thereof Now he bade
Sigurd take the sword, and said he knew not how to
make a sword if this one failed. Then Sigurd smote it
into the anvil, and cleft it down to the stock thereof,
and neither burst the sword nor brake it. Then he
praised the sword much, and thereafter went to the river
with a lock of wool, and threw it up against the stream,
and it fell asunder when it met the sword. Then was
Sigurd glad, and went home.
But Regin said, " Now whereas I have made the
sword for thee, belike thou wilt hold to thy troth given,
and wilt go meet Fafnir."
" Surely will I hold thereto," said Sigurd, " yet first
must I avenge my father."
Now Sigurd the older he grew, the more he grew
in the love of all men, so that every child loved him
well.
52 THE STORY OF THE
CHAP. XVI.
The Prophecy of Grifir.
THERE was a man hight Grifir, who was Sigurd's
mother's brother, and a little after the forging of
the sword Sigurd went to Grifir, because he was a man
who knew things to come, and w^hat was fated to men :
of him Sigurd asked diligently how his life should go ;
but Grifir was long or he spake, yet at the last, by reason
of Sigurd's exceeding great prayers, he told him all his
life and the fate thereof, even as aftervvards came to pass.
So when Grifir had told him all even as he would, he
went back home ; and a little after he and Regin met.
Then said Regin, " Go thou and slay Fafnir, even as
thou hast given thy word."
Sigurd said, " That work shall be wTought ; but
another is first to be done, the avenging of Sigmund the
king and the other of my kinsmen who fell in that their
last fight."
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 53
CHAP. XVII.
Of Sigiircfs Avenging of Sigtnund his Father.
NOW Sigurd went to the kings, and spake thus —
" Here have I abode a space with you, and I
owe you thanks and reward, for great love and many
gifts and all due honour ; but now will I away from the
land and go meet the sons of Hunding, and do them to
wit that the Volsungs are not all dead : and your might
would I have to strengthen me therein."
So the kings said that they would give him all things
soever that he desired, and therewith was a great army
got ready, and all things wrought in the most heedful
wise, ships and all war-gear, so that his journey might
be of the stateliest : but Sigurd himself steered the
dragon-keel which was the greatest and noblest ; richly
wTOught were their sails, and glorious to look on.
So they sail and have wind at will ; but when a few
days were overpast, there arose a great storm on the sea,
and the waves were to behold even as the foam of men's
blood ; but Sigurd bade take in no sail, howsoever they
might be riven, but rather to lay on higher than here-
54 THE STORY OF THE
tofore. But as they sailed past the rocks of a ness, a
certain man hailed the ships, and asked who was captain
over that navy, then was it told him that the chief and
lord was Sigurd, the son of Sigmund, the most famed of
all the young men who now are.
Then said the man, " Naught but one thing, certes,
do all say of him, that none among the sons of kings
may be likened unto him ; now fain were I that ye
would shorten sail on some of the ships, and take me
aboard."
Then they asked him of his name, and he sang —
Hnikar I hight.
When I gladdened Huginn,
And went to battle,
Bright son of Volsung ;
Now may ye call
The carl on the cliff top,
Feng or Fjolnir :
Fain would I with you.
They made for land therewith, and took that man
aboard.
Then quoth Sigurd, as the song says —
Tell me this, O Hnikar,
Since full well thou knowest
Fate of Gods, good and ill of mankind.
What best our hap foresheweth,
When amid the battle
About us sweeps the sword edge.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 55
Quoth Hnikar —
Good are many tokens
If thereof men wotted
When the swords are sweeping :
Fair fellow deem I
The dark-winged raven,
In war, to weapon-wielder.
The second good thing :
When abroad thou goest
For the long road well arrayed,
Good if thou seest
Two men standing.
Fain of fame within the forecourt.
A third thing :
Good hearing.
The wolf a howling,
Abroad under ash boughs ;
Good hap shalt thou have
Dealing with helm-staves,
If thou seest these fare before thee.
No man in fight
His face shall turn
Against the moon's sister
Low, late-shining
For he winneth battle,
Who best beholdeth
Through the midmost sword-play.
And the sloping ranks best shapeth.
5 6 THE STORY OF THE
Great is the trouble
Of foot ill-tripping,
When arrayed for fight thou farest,
For on both sides about
Are the Disir by thee,
Guileful, wishful of thy wounding.
Fair-combed, well washen
Let each warrior be
Nor lack meat in the morning,
For who can rule.
The eve's returning,
And base to fall before fate grovelling.
Then the storm abated, and on they fared till they
came aland in the realm of Hunding's sons, and then
Fjolnir vanished away.
Then they let loose fire and sword, and slew men
and burnt their abodes, and did waste all before them :
a great company of folk fled before the face of them to
Lyngi the King, and tell him that men of war are in the
land, and are faring Avith such rage and fury that the
like has never been heard of; and that the sons of
King Hunding had no great forecast in that they said
they would never fear the Volsungs more, for here was
come Sigurd, the son of Sigmund, as captain over this
araiy.
So King Lyngi let send the war-message all throughout
his realm, and has no will to flee, but summons to him
all such as would give him aid. So he came against
Sigurd with a great army, he and his brothers Avith him,
and an exceeding fierce fight befell ; many a spear and
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 57
many an arrow might men see there raised aloft, axes
hard driven, shields cleft and byrnies torn, helmets were
shivered, skulls split atwain, and many a man felled to
the cold earth.
And now when the fight has long dured in such
wise, Sigurd goes forth before the banners, and has the
good sword Gram in his hand, and smites down both
men and horses, and goes through the thickest of the
throng with both arms red with blood to the shoulder ;
and folk shrank aback before him wheresoever he went,
nor would either helm or bymy hold before him, and
no man deemed he had ever seen his like. So a long
while the battle lasted, and many a man was slain, and
furious was the onset; till at last it befell, even as
seldom comes to hand, when a land army falls on, that,
do whatso they might, naught was brought about ; but
so many men fell of the sons of Hunding that the tale
of them may not be told ; and now whenas Sigurd was
among the foremost, came the sons of Hunding against
him, and Sigurd smote therewith at Lyngi the king, and
clave him down, both helm and head, and mail-clad
body, and thereafter he smote Hjorward his brother
atwain, and then slew all the other sons of Hunding
who were yet alive, and the more part of their folk
withal.
Now home goes Sigurd with fair victory won, and
plenteous wealth and great honour, which he had gotten
to him in this journey, and feasts were made for him
against he came back to the realm.
But when Sigurd had been at home but a little, came
Regin to talk with him, and said —
" Belike thou wilt now have good will to bow down
5 8 THE STORY OF THE
Fafnir's crest according to thy word plighted, since
thou hast thus revenged thy father and the others of
thy kin."
Sigurd answered, "That will we hold to, even as
we have promised, nor did it ever fall from our me-
mory."
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 59
CHAP. XVIII.
Of the Slaying of the Worm Fafiir.
NOW Sigurd and Regin ride up the heath along that
same way wherein Fafnir was wont to creep
when he fared to the water; and folk say that thirty
fathoms was the height of that cliff along which he lay
when he drank of the water below. Then Sigurd spake :
" How sayedst thou, Regin, that this drake was no
greater than other lingworms ; methinks the track of him
is marvellous great ? "
Then said Regin, " Make thee a hole, and sit down
therein, and whenas the worm comes to the water, smite
him into the heart, and so do him to death, and win for
thee great fame thereby."
But Sigurd said, " What will betide me if I be before
the blood of the worm ? "
Says Regin, " Of what avail to counsel thee if thou
art still afeard of everything? Little art thou like thy
kin in stoutness of heart."
Then Sigurd rides right over the heath; but Regin
gets him gone, sore afeard.
But Sigurd fell to digging him a pit, and whiles he
was at that work, there came to him an old man with a
long beard, and asked what he wrought there, and he
told him.
6o THE STOR Y OF THE
Then answered the old man and said, " Thou doest
after sorry counsel : rather dig thee many pits, and let
the blood run therein ; but sit thee down in one thereof,
and so thrust the worm's heart through."
And therewithal he vanished away ; but Sigurd made
the pits even as it was shown to him.
Now crept the worm down to his place of watering,
and the earth shook all about him, and he snorted forth
venom on all the way before him as he went ; but Sigurd
neither trembled nor was adrad at the roaring of him.
So whenas the worm crept over the pits, Sigurd thrust
his sword under his left shoulder, so that it sank in up to
the hilts; then up leapt Sigurd from the pit and drew
the sword back again unto him, and therewith was his
arm all bloody, up to the very shoulder.
Now when that mighty worm was ware that he had
his death-wound, then he lashed out head and tail, so
that all things soever that were before him were broken
to pieces.
So whenas Fafnir had his death-wound, he asked
"Who art thou? and who is thy father? and what thy
kin, that thou wert so hardy as to bear weapons against
me
Sigurd answered, " Unknown to men is my kin. I
am called a noble beast : neither father have I nor
mother, and all alone have I fared hither."
Said Fafnir, " Whereas thou hast neither father nor
mother, of what wonder wert thou born then ? But now,
though thou tellest me not thy name on this my death-
day, yet thou knowest verily that thou liest unto me."
He answered, " Sigurd am I called, and my father
was Sigmund."
FOZSOWGS AND NIB LUNGS. 6i
Says Fafnir, " Who egged thee on to this deed, and
why wouldst thou be driven to it? Hadst thou never
heard how that all folk were adrad of me, and of the awe
of my countenance ? But an eager father thou hadst, O
bright-eyed swain ! "
Sigurd answered, " A hardy heart urged me on
hereto ; and a strong hand and this sharp sword, which
well thou knowest now, stood me in stead in the doing
of the deed j Seldom hath hardy eld a faint-heart yoiithP
Fafnir said, " Well, I wot that hadst thou waxed
amid thy kin, thou mightest have good skill to slay folk
in thine anger ; but more of a marvel is it, that thou, a
bondsman taken in war, shouldst have the heart to set
on rat, for few among bondtnen have heart for the fights
Said Sigurd, " Wilt thou then cast it in my teeth that
I am far away from my kin ? Albeit I was a bondsman,
yet was I never shackled. God wot thou hast found me
free enow."
Fafnir answered, " In angry wise dost thou take my
speech ; but hearken, for that same gold which I have
owned shall be thy bane too."
Quoth Sigurd, " Fain would we keep all our wealth
till that day of days ; yet shall each man die once for
all."
Said Fafnir, " Few things wilt thou do after my
counsel; but take heed that thou shalt be drowned if
thou farest unwarily over the sea ; so bide thou rather on
the dry land, for the coming of the calm tide."
Then said Sigurd, " Speak, Fafnir, and say if thou art
so exceeding wise, who are the Norns who rule the lot of
all mothers' sons."
Fafnir answers, " Many they be and wide apar* j
62 THE STORY OF THE
for some are of the kin of the Æsir, and some are of
Elfin kin, and some there are who are daughters of
Dvalin."
Said Sigurd, " How namest thou the holm whereon Surt
and the Æsir mix and mingle the water of the sword ? "
" Unshapen is that holm hight," said Fafnir.
And yet again he said, " Regin, my brother, has
brought about my end, and it gladdens my heart that
thine too he bringeth about ; for thus will things be
according to his will."
And once again he spake, "A countenance of terror
I bore up before all folk, after that I brooded over the
heritage of my brother, and on every side did I spout
out poison, so that none durst come anigh me, and of
no weapon was I adrad, nor ever had I so many men
before me, as that I deemed not myself stronger than
all ; for all men were sore afeard of me."
Sigurd answered and said, " Few may have victory
by means of that same countenance of terror, for whoso
comes amongst many shall one day find that no one man
is by so far the mightiest of all."
Then says Fafnir, " Such counsel I give thee, that
thou take thy horse and ride away at thy speediest, for
ofttimes it falls out so, that he who gets a death-wound
avenges himself none the less."
Sigurd answered, " Such as thy redes are I Avill
no'W'ise do after them ; nay, I will ride now to thy lair
and take to me that great treasure of thy kin."
" Ride there then," said Fafnir, " and thou shalt
find gold enow to suffice thee for all thy life-days ; yet
shall that gold be thy bane, and the bane of every one
soever who owns it."
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 63
Then up stood Sigurd, and said, " Home would I
ride and lose all that wealth, if I deemed that by the
losing thereof I should never die ; but every brave and
true man will fain have his hand on wealth till that last
day ; but thou, Fafnir, wallow in the death-pain till Death
and Hell have thee."
And therewithal Fafnir died.
64 2 HE STOR V OF THE
CHAP. XIX.
Of the Slaying of Regit!, Son of Hrcidniar.
THEREAFTER came Regin to Sigurd, and said,
" Hail, lord and master, a noble victory hast
thou won in the slaying of Fafnir, whereas none durst
heretofore abide in the path of him ; and now shall this
deed of fame be of renowm while the world stands fast."
Then stood Regin staring on the earth a long while,
and presently thereafter spake from heavy mood :
" Mine own brother hast thou slain, and scarce may I
be called sackless of the deed."
Then Sigurd took his sword Gram and dried it on
the earth, and spake to Regin —
" Afar thou faredst when I MTOught this deed and
tried this sharp sword with the hand and the might of
me ; with all the might and main of a dragon must I
strive, while thou wert laid alow in the heather-bush,
wotting not if it were earth or heaven."
Said Regin, " Long might this worm have lain in his
lair, if the sharp sword I forged with my hand had not
been good at need to thee ; had that not been, neither
thou nor any man would have prevailed against him as at
this time."
Sigurd answers, " Whenas men meet foes in fight
better is stout heart than sharp sword."
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 65
Then said Regin, exceeding heavily, " Thou hast
slain my brother, and scarce may I be sackless of the
deed."
Therewith Sigurd cut out the heart of the worm with
the sword called Ridil ; but Regin drank of Fafnir's
blood, and spake, " Grant me a boon, and do a thing
little for thee to do. Bear the heart to the fire, and roast
it, and give me thereof to eat."
Then Sigurd went his ways and roasted it on a rod ;
and when the blood bubbled out he laid his finger
thereon to essay it, if it were fully done ; and then he
set his finger in his mouth, and lo, when the heart-blood
of the worm touched his tongue, straightway he knew
the voice of all fowls, and heard withal how the wood-
peckers chattered in the brake beside him —
" There sittest thou, Sigurd, roasting Fafnir's heart
for another, that thou shouldest eat thine ownself, and
then thou shouldest become the wisest of all men."
And another spake : " There lies Regin, minded to
beguile the man who trusts in him."
But yet again said the third, " Let him smite the
head from off him then, and be only lord of all that
gold."
And once more the fourth spake and said, " Ah, the
wiser were he if he followed after that good counsel, and
rode thereafter to Fafnir's lair, and took to him that
mighty treasure that lieth there, and then rode over
Hindfell, whereas sleeps Brynhild ; for there would he
get great wisdom. Ah, wise he were, if he did after
your redes, and bethought him of his own weal; for
where wolfs ears are, wolfs teeth arc near.'''
Then cried the fifth : " Yea, yea, not so wise is he as
F
66 THE STORY OF THE
I deem him, if he spareth him, whose brother he hath
slain already."
At last spake the sixth : " Handy and good rede to
slay him, and be lord of the treasure ! "
Then said Sigurd, " The time is unborn wherein
Regin shall be my bane ; nay, rather one road shall
both these brothers fare."
And therewith he drew his sword Gram and struck
off Regin's head.
Then heard Sigurd the woodpeckers a-singing, even
as the song says.
For the first sang :
Bind thou, Sigurd,
The bright red rings !
Not meet it is
Many things to fear.
A fair may know I,
Fair of all the fairest
Girt about ^\^th gold,
Good for thy getting.
And the second :
Green go the ways
Toward the hall of Giuki
That the fates show forth
To those who fare thither ;
There the rich king
Reareth a daughter ;
Thou shalt deal, Sigurd,
With gold for that sweetlins
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 67
And the third :
A high hall is there,
Reared upon Hindfell,
Without all around it
Sweeps the red flame aloft ;
Wise men wrought
That wonder of halls
With the unhidden gleam
Of the glory of gold.
Then the fourth sang :
Soft on the fell
A shield-may sleepeth
The lime-trees' red plague
Playing about her :
The sleep-thorn set Odin
Into that maiden
For her choosing in war
The one he willed not.
Go, son, behold
That may under helm
Whom from battle
Vinskornir bore,
From her mayst thou turn
The torment of sleep.
Dear offspring of kings
In the dread Norns' despite.
Then Sigurd ate some deal of Fafnir's heart, and the
remnant he kept. Then he leapt on his horse and rode
68 THE STORY OF THE
along the trail of the worm Fafnir, and so right unto his
abiding place ; and he found it open, and beheld all the
doors and the gear of them that they were wrought of
iron ; yea, and all the beams of the house ; and it was
dug down deep into the earth : there found Sigurd gold
exceeding plenteous, and the sword Rotti; and thence
he took the Helm of Awe, and the Gold Byrny and many
things fair and good. So much gold he found there,
that he thought verily that scarce might two horses, or
three belike, bear it thence. So he took all the gold,
and laid it in two great chests, and set them on the
horse Grani, and took the reins of him, but nowise mil
he stir, neither will he abide smiting. Then Sigurd
knows the mind of the horse, and leaps on the back of
him, and smites the spurs into him, and oif the horse
goes even as if he were unladen.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 69
CHAP. XX.
Of Sigiird's Meeting with Brynhild on the Afountain.
BY long roads rides Sigurd, till he comes at the last
up on to Hindfell, and wends his way south to the
land of the Franks ; and he sees before him on the fell
a great light, as of fire burning, and flaming up even
unto the heavens; and when he came thereto, lo, a
shield -hung castle before him, and a banner on the
topmost thereof: into the castle went Sigurd, and saw
one lying there asleep, and all-armed. Therewith he
takes the helm from off the head of him, and sees that
it is no man, but a woman ; and she was clad in a
bymy as closely set on her, as though it had grown to
her flesh : so he rent it from the collar downwards ; and
then the sleeves thereof, and ever the sword bit on it as
if it were cloth. Then said Sigurd that over-long had
she lain asleep ; but she asked —
"What thing of great might is it that has prevailed to
rend my byrny, and draw me from my sleep ?"
Even as sings the song —
What bit on the bymy
Why breaks my sleep away
Who has turned from me
My wan tormenting ?
70 THE STORY OF THE
"Ah, is it so, that here is come Sigurd Sigmundson,
bearing Fafnir's hehn on his head and Fafnir's bane in
his hand ? "
Then answered Sigurd —
" Sigmund's son
With Sigurd's sword
E'en now rent do\\Ti
The raven's wall.
" Of the Volsungs' kin is he who has done the deed \
but now I have heard that thou art daughter of a
mighty king, and folk have told us that thou wert
lovely and full of lore, and now mil I try the same."
Then Brynhild sang —
" Long have I slept
And slumbered long,
Many and long are the woes of mankind.
By the might of Odin
Must I bide helpless
To shake from off me the spells of slumber.
Hail to the day come back !
Hail, sons of the daylight !
Hail to thee, dark night, and thy daughter !
Look with kind eyes a-down,
On us sitting here lonely.
And give unto us the gain that we long for.
Hail to the Æsir,
And the sweet Asyniur !
Hail to the fair earth fulfilled of plenty !
VOLS [/JVGS AND NIBL UNGS. 7 1
Fair words, wise hearts,
Would we win from you,
And healing hands while life we hold."
Then Brynhild speaks again and says, " Two kings
fought, one hight Helm Gunnar, an old man, and the
greatest of warriors, and Odin had promised the victory
unto him; but his foe was Agnar, or Audi's brother:
and so I smote down Helm Gunnar in the fight ; and
Odin, in vengeance for that deed, stuck the sleep-thorn
into me, and said that I should never again have the
victory, but should be given away in marriage; but
thereagainst I vowed a vow, that never would I wed one
who knew the name of fear."
Then said Sigurd, " Teach us the lore of mighty
matters ! "
She said, " Belike thou cannest more skill in all than
I ; yet will I teach thee ; yea, and with thanks, if there
be aught of my cunning that will in anywise pleasure
thee, either of runes or of other matters that are the root
of things ; but now let us drink together, and may the
Gods give to us twain a good day, that thou mayst win
good help and fame from my wisdom, and that thou
mayst hereafter mind thee of that which we twain
speak together."
Then Brynhild filled a beaker and bore it to Sigurd,
and gave him the drink of love, and spake —
" Beer bring I to thee.
Fair fruit of the byrnies' clash.
Mixed is it mightily,
Mingled with fame.
Brimming with bright lays
72 THE STORY OF THE
And pitiful runes,
Wise words, sweet words,
Speech of great game.
Runes of war know thou.
If great thou wilt be !
Cut them on hilt of hardened sword.
Some on the brand's back.
Some on its shining side.
Twice name Tyr therein.
Sea-runes good at need.
Learnt for ship's saving,
For the good health of the swimming horse ;
On the stem cut them,
Cut them on the rudder-blade
And set flame to shaven oar :
Howso big be the sea-hills,
Howso blue beneath.
Hail from the main then comest thou home.
Word-runes learn well
If thou wilt that no man
Pay back grief for the grief thou gavest ;
Wind thou these,
Weave thou these.
Cast thou these all about thee,
At the Thing,
\\Tiere folk throng,
Unto the full doom faring.
Of ale-runes know the -nisdom
If thou mlt that another's ^\'ife
Should not bewray thine heart that trusteth ;
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 73
Cut them on the mead-horn,
On the back of each hand,
And nick an N upon thy nail.
Ale have thou heed
To sign from all harm.
Leek lay thou in the liquor,
Then 1 know for sure
Never cometh to thee.
Mead with hurtful matters mingled.
Help-runes shalt thou gather
If skill thou wouldst gain
To loosen child from low-laid mother ;
Cut be they in hands hollow,
Wrapped the joints round about;
Call for the Good-folks' gainsome helping.
Learn the bough-runes wisdom
If leech-lore thou lovest ;
And wilt wot about wounds' searching
On the bark be they scored ;
On the buds of trees
Whose boughs look eastward ever.
Thought-runes shalt thou deal with
If thou wilt be of all men
Fairest-souled wight, and wisest
These areded
These first cut
These first took to heart high Hropt.
74 THE STORY OF THE
On the shield were they scored
That stands before the shining God,
On Early-waking's ear,
On All-knowing's hoof,
On the wheel which runneth
Under Rognir's chariot ;
On Sleipnir's jaw-teeth,
On the sleigh's traces.
On the rough bear's paws,
And on Bragi's tongue.
On the wolf's claws,
And on eagle's bill.
On bloody wings.
And bridge's end ;
On loosing palms.
And pity's path :
On glass, and on gold.
And on goodly silver.
In -vvdne and in wort.
And the seat of the mtch-^vife ;
On Gungnir's point,
And Grani's bosom ;
On the Norn's nail,
And the neb of the night-owl.
All these so cut.
Were shaven and sheared,
And mingled in with holy mead.
And sent upon wide ways enow j
Some abide with the Elves,
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. - 75
Some abide with the Æsir,
Or with the wise Vanir,
Some still hold the sons of mankind.
These be the book-runes,
And the runes of good help,
And all the ale-runes,
And the runes of much might ;
To whomso they may avail,
Unbewildered unspoilt ;
They are wholesome to have :
Thrive thou with these then.
When thou hast learnt their lore,
Till the Gods end thy life-days.
Now shalt thou choose thee
E'en as choice is bidden.
Sharp steel's root and stem.
Choose song or silence ;
See to each in thy heart,
All hurt has been heeded."
Then answered Sigurd —
" Ne'er shall I flee.
Though thou wottest me fey ;
Never was I born for blenching.
Thy loved rede will I
Hold aright in my heart
Even as long as I may live."
76 . THE STORY OF THE
CHAP. XXI.
More Wise Words of Brynhild.
SIGURD spake now, "Sure no wiser woman than
thou art one may be found in the wide world ; yea,
yea, teach me more yet of thy wisdom ! "
She answers, " Seemly is it that I do according to
thy Avill, and show thee forth more redes of great avail,
for thy prayer's sake and thy wisdom ; " and she spake
withal —
" Be kindly to friend and kin, and reward not their
trespasses against thee ; bear and forbear, and win for
thee thereby long enduring praise of men.
" Take good heed of evil things : a may's love, and a
man's wife ; full oft thereof doth ill befall !
" Let not thy mind be overmuch crossed by unwise
men at thronged meetings of folk ; for oft these speak
worse than they wot of; lest thou be called a dastard,
and art minded to think that thou art even as is said ;
slay such an one on another day, and so reward his
ugly talk.
" If thou farest by the way whereas bide evil things,
be well ware of thyself; take not harbour near the high-
way, though thou be benighted, for oft abide there ill
wights for men's bewilderment.
" Let not fair women beguile thee, such as thou mayst
meet at the feast, so that the thought thereof stand thee
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 77
in stead of sleep, and a quiet mind ; yea, draw them not
to thee with kisses or other sweet things of love.
" If thou hearest the fool's word of a drunken man,
strive not with him being drunk with drink and witless ;
many a grief, yea, and the very death, groweth from out
such things.
" Fight thy foes in the field, nor be burnt in thine
house.
" Never swear thou wrongsome oath ; great and grim
is the reward for the breaking of plighted troth.
"Give kind heed to dead men, — sick-dead, sea-dead,
or sword-dead ; deal heedfully with their dead corpses.
"Trow never in him for whom thou hast slain
father, brother, or whatso near kin, yea, young though
he be \ for oft waxes wolf in youngling.
"Look thou with good heed to the wiles of thy
friends \ but little skill is given to me, that I should
foresee the ways of thy life ; yet good it were that hate
fell not on thee from those of thy wife's house."
Sigurd spake, " None among the sons of men can be
found wiser than thou ; and thereby swear I, that thee
will I have as mine own, for near to my heart thou liest."
She answers, " Thee would I fainest choose, though
I had all men's sons to choose from."
And thereto they plighted troth both of them.
78 THE STORY OF THE
CHAP. XXII.
Of the Semblance aiid Array of Sigurd Fafnir' s-bane.
OW Sigurd rides away ; many-folded is his shield,
N
and blazing with red gold, and the image of a
dragon is drawn thereon ; and this same was dark
brown above, and bright red below ; and \vith even such-
like image was adorned helm, and saddle, and coat-
armour ; and he was clad in the golden bymy, and all
his weapons were gold-wrought.
Now for this cause was the drake drawn on all his
weapons, that when he was seen of men, all folk might
know who went there ; yea, all those who had heard of
his slaying of that great dragon, that the Veerings call
Fafnir ; and for that cause are his weapons gold-wrought,
and brown of hue, and that he was far above other men
in courtesy and goodly manners, and well-nigh in all
things else ; and whenas folk tell of all the mightiest
champions, and the noblest chiefs, then ever is he
named the foremost, and his name goes wide about on
^11 tongues north of the sea of the Greek-lands, and even
so shall it be while the world endures.
Now the hair of this Sigurd was golden-red of hue,
fair of fashion, and falling down in great locks ; thick
and short was his beard, and of no other colour ; high-
nosed he was, broad and high-boned of face ; so keen
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 79
were his eyes, that few durst gaze up under the brows
of him ; his shoulders were as broad to look on as
the shoulders of two ; most duly was his body fash-
ioned betwixt height and breadth, and in such wise as
was seemliest ; and this is the sign told of his height,
that when he was girt with his sword Gram, which same
was seven spans long, as he went through the full-grown
rye-fields, the dew-shoe of the said sword smote the ears
of the standing corn ; and, for all that, greater was his
strength than his growth : well could he wield sword,
and cast forth spear, shoot shaft, and hold shield, bend
bow, back horse, and do all the goodly deeds that he
learned in his youth's days.
Wise he was to know things yet undone; and the
voice of all fowls he knew, wherefore few things fell on
him unawares.
Of many words he was, and so fair of speech withal,
that whensoever he made it his business to speak, he
never left speaking before that to all men it seemed full
sure, that no other^vise must the matter be than as he
said.
His sport and pleasure it was to give aid to his own
folk, and to prove himself in mighty matters, to take
wealth from his unfriends, and give the same to his
friends.
Never did he lose heart, and of naught was he adrad.
8o THE STORY OF THE
CHAP XXIII.
Sigurd comes to Hlynidale.
FORTH Sigurd rides till he comes to a great and
goodly dwelling, the lord whereof was a mighty-
chief called Heimir ; he had to wife a sister of Brynhild,
who was hight Bekkhild, because she had bidden at
home, and learned handicraft, whereas Brynhild fared
with helm and byrny unto the wars, wherefore was she
called Brynhild.
Heimir and Bekkhild had a son called Alswid, the
most courteous of men.
Now at this stead were men disporting them abroad,
but when they see the man riding thereto, they leave
their play to wonder at him, for none such had they ever
seen erst ; so they went to meet him, and gave him
good welcome ; Alswid bade him abide and have such
things at his hands as he would ; and he takes his
bidding blithesomely ; due service withal was established
for him ; four men bore the treasure of gold from off the
horse, and the fifth took it to him to guard the same ;
therein were many things to be hold, things of great price,
and seldom seen; and great game and joy men had to
look on byrnies and helms, and mighty rings, and
wondrous great golden stoups, and all kinds of war
weapons.
VOLS UNGS AND NIBL UNGS. 8 1
So there dwelt Sigurd long in great honour holden ;
and tidings of that deed of fame, spread wide through all
lands, of how he had slain that hideous and fearful
dragon. So good joyance had they there together, and
each was leal to other ; and their sport was in the array-
ing of their weapons, and the shafting of their arrows,
and the flying of their falcons.
82 THE STORY OT THE
CHAP. XXIV.
Sigiird sees Bryiihild at Hlytiidale.
IN those days came home to Heimir, Brynhild, his
foster-daughter, and she sat in her bower with her
maidens, and could more skill in handycraft than other
women ; she sat, overlaying cloth with gold, and sewing
therein the great deeds which Sigurd had wrought, the
slaying of the Worm, and the taking of the wealth of
him, and the death of Regin withal.
Now tells the tale, that on a day Sigurd rode into
the wood with hawk, and hound, and men thronging ;
and whenas he came home his hawk flew up to a high
tower, and sat him down on a certain window. Then
fared Sigurd after his hawk, and he saw where sat a fair
woman, and knew that it was Brynhild, and he deems
all things he sees there to be worthy together, both her
fairness, and the fair things she wrought : and therewith
he goes into the hall, but has no more joyance in the
games of the men folk.
Then spake Alswid, " 'WTiy art thou so bare of bliss ?
this manner of thine grieveth us thy friends ; why then
wilt thou not hold to thy gleesome ways ? Lo, thy hawks
pine now, and thy horse Grani droops ; and long will it
be ere we are booted thereof?"
Sisurd answered, " Good friend, hearken to what lies
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. ^i
on my mind ; for my hawk flew up into a certain tower ;
and when I came thereto and took him, lo there I saw a
fair woman, and she sat by a needlework of gold, and did
thereon my deeds that are passed, and my deeds that
are to come."
Then said Alswid, " Thou hast seen Biynhild, Budli's
daughter, the greatest of great women."
" Yea, verily," said Sigurd ; " but how came she
hither?"
Alswid answered, " Short space there was betwixt
the coming hither of the twain of you."
Says Sigurd, " Yea, but a few days agone I knew her
for the best of the world's women."
Alswid said, " Give not all thine heed to one woman,
being such a man as thou art ; ill life to sit lamenting
for what we may not have."
" I shall go meet her," says Sigurd, " and get from
her love like my love, and give her a gold ring in token
thereof"
Alswid answered, " None has ever yet been known
whom she would let sit beside her, or to whom she
would give drink ; for ever will she hold to warfare and
to the winning of all kinds of fame."
Sigurd said, "We know not for sure whether she
will give us answer or not, or grant us a seat beside
her."
So the next day after, Sigurd went to the bower, but
Alswid stood outside the bower door, fitting shafts to
his arrows.
Now Sigurd spake, " Abide, fair and hale lady, — how
farest thou ? "
She answered, " Well it fares ; my kin and my friends
84 THE STOR V OF THE
live yet : but who shall say what goodhap folk may
bear to their life's end ? "
He sat him down by her, and there came in four
damsels with great golden beakers, and the best of wine
therein ; and these stood before the twain.
Then said Brynhild, " This seat is for few, but and if
my father come."
He answered, " Yet is it granted to one that likes
me well."
Now that chamber was hung with the best and fairest
of hangings, and the floor thereof was all covered with
cloth.
Sigurd spake, " Now has it come to pass even as
thou didst promise."
" O be thou welcome here ! " said she, and arose
therewith, and the four damsels Avith her, and bore the
golden beaker to him, and bade him drink ; he stretched
out his hand to the beaker, and took it, and her hand
withal, and drew her down beside him ; and cast his
arms round about her neck and kissed her, and said —
" Thou art the fairest that was ever born ! "
But Brynhild said, " Ah, wiser is it not to cast faith
and troth into a woman's power, for ever shall they break
that they have promised."
He said, " That day would dawn the best of days
over our heads whereon each of each should be made
happy."
Brynhild answered, " It. is not fated that we should
abide together, I am a shield-may, and wear helm on
head even as the kings of war, and them full oft I help,
neither is the battle become loathsome to me."
Sigurd answered, " What fruit shall be of our life, if
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 85
we live not together : harder to bear this pain that lies
hereunder, than the stroke of sharp sword."
Brynhild answers, " I shall gaze on the hosts of the
war-kings, but thou shalt wed Gudrun, the daughter of
Giuki."
Sigurd answered, "What king's daughter lives to
beguile me? neither am I double-hearted herein j and
now I swear by the Gods that thee shall I have for mine
own, or no woman else."
And even in suchlike wise spake she.
Sigurd thanked her for her speech, and gave her a
gold ring, and now they swore oath anew, and so he went
his ways to his men, and is with them awhile in great bliss.
86 THE STORY OF THE
CHAP. XXV.
Of the Dream of Giidrim, Giiiki's daughter.
THERE was a king hight Giuki, who ruled a realm
south of the Rhine ; three sons he had, thus
named : Gunnar, Hogni, and Guttorm, and Gudrun was
the name of his daughter, the fairest of maidens ; and
all these children were far before all other king's children
in all prowess, and in goodliness and growth withal ;
ever were his sons at the wars and wrought many a
deed of fame. But Giuki had wedded Grimhild the
Wise-wife.
Now Budli was the name of a king mightier than
Giuki, mighty though they both were : and Atli was the
brother of BrjTihild : Atli was a fierce man and a grim,
great and black to look on, yet noble of mien withal,
and the greatest of warriors. Grimhild was a fierce-
hearted woman.
Now the days of the Giukings bloomed fair, and
chiefly because of those children, so far before the sons
of men.
On a day Gudrun says to her mays that she may
have no joy of heart; then a certain woman asked her
wherefore her joy was departed.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 87
She answered, " Grief came to me in my dreams,
therefore is there sorrow in my heart, since thou must
needs ask thereof."
"Tell it me, then, thy dream," said the woman,
" for dreams oft forecast but the weather."
Gudrun answers, " Nay, nay, no weather is this ; I
dreamed that I had a fair hawk on my wrist, feathered
with feathers of gold."
Says the woman, " Many have heard tell of thy
beauty, thy Avisdom, and thy courtesy ; some king's son
abides thee then."
Gudrun answers, " I dreamed that naught was so
dear to me as this hawk, and all my wealth had I cast
aside rather than him."
The woman said, " Well then the man thou shalt
have will be of the goodliest, and well shalt thou love
him."
Gudrun answered, " It grieves me that 1 know not
who he shall be ; let us go seek Brynhild, for she belike
will wot thereof."
So they arrayed them in gold and many a fair thing,
and she went with her damsels till they came to the hall
of Brynhild, and that hall was dight with gold, and stood
on a high hill ; and whenas their goings were seen, it
was told Brynhild, that a company of women drove
toward the burg in gilded waggons.
" That shall be Gudrun, Giuki's daughter," says she :
" I dreamed of her last night ; let us go meet her ; no
fairer woman may come to our house."
So they went abroad to meet them, and gave them
good greeting, and they went into the goodly hall to-
88 THE STOR V OF THE
gether; fairly painted it was within, and well adorned
wit?i silver vessel ; cloths were spread under the feet of
them, and all folk served them, and in many wise they
sported.
But Gudrun was somewhat silent.
Then said Brynhild, " 111 to abash folk of their
mirth \ prithee do not so ; let us talk together for our
disport of mighty kings and their great deeds."
" Good talk," says Gudrun ; " let us do even so ;
what kings deemest thou to have been the first of all
men ? "
Brynhild says, " The sons of Haki, and Hagbard
withal ; they brought to pass many a deed of fame in
their warfare."
Gudrun answers, " Great men certes, and of noble
fame ! Yet Sigar took their one sister, and burned the
other, house and all ; and they may be called slow to
revenge the deed; why didst thou not name my bre-
thren, who are held to be the first of men as at this
time ? "
Brynhild says, " Men of good hope are they surely,
though but little proven hitherto; but one I know far
before them, Sigurd, the son of Sigmund the king ; a
youngling was he in the days when he slew the sons of
Handing, and revenged his father, and Eylimi, his
mother's father."
Said Gudrun, " By what token tellest thou that ? "
Brynhild answered, " His mother went amid the
dead, and found Sigmund the king sore wounded, and
would bind up his hurts ; but he said he grew over old
for war, and bade her lay this comfort to her heart, that
VOLSUNGS AND NIBLUNGS. 89
she should bear the most famed of sons ; and wise was
the wise man's word therein : for after the death of
King Sigmund, she went to King Alf, and there was
Sigurd nourished in great honour, and day by day he
wrought some deed of fame, and is the man most
renowned of all the wide world."
Gudrun says, " From love hast thou gained these
tidings of him ; but for this cause came I here, to tell
thee dreams of mine which have brought me great
grief"
Says Brynhild, " Let not such matters sadden thee ;
abide with thy friends who wish thee blithesome, all of
them ! "
" This I dreamed," said Gudrun, " that we went, a
many of us in company, from the bower, and we saw an
exceeding great hart, that far excelled all other deer
ever seen, and the hair of him was golden ; and this
deer we were all iliin to take, but I alone got him ; and
he seemed to me better than all things else ; but
sithence thou, Brynhild, didst shoot and slay my deer even
at my very knees, and such grief was that to me that
scarce might I bear it ; and then afterwards thou gavest
me a wolf-cub, which besprinkled me with the blood of
my brethren."
Brynhild answers, " I will arede thy dream, even as
things shall come to pass hereafter ; for Sigurd shall
come to thee, even he whom I have chosen for my
well-beloved; and Grimhild shall give him mead min-
gled with hurtful things, which shall cast us all into
mighty strife. Him shalt thou have, and him shalt
thou quickly miss ; and Atli the king shalt thou wed ;
90 THE STOR V OF THE
and thy brethren shalt thou lose, and slay Atli A\-ithal in
the end."
Gudrun answers, " Grief and woe to know that such
things shall be ! "
And therewith she and hers get them gone home to
Kins Giuki.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS.
91
CHAP. XXVI.
Sigurd comes to the Giukiiigs a/id is zocddcd to Gudnin.
NOW Sigurd goes his ways with all that great trea-
sure, and in friendly wise he departs from them ;
and on Grani he rides with all his war-gear and the
burden withal ; and thus he rides until he comes to the
hall of King Giuki ; there he rides into the burg, and
that sees one of the king's men, and he spake withal —
" Sure it may be deemed that here is come one of
the Gods, for his array is all done with gold, and his
horse is far mightier than other horses, and the manner
of his weapons is most exceeding goodly, and most of all
the man himself far excels all other men ever seen."
So the king goes out with his court and greets the
man, and asks —
" Who art thou who thus ridest into my burg, as none
has durst hitherto without the leave of my sons ? "
He answered, " I am called Sigurd, son of King
Sigmund."
Then said King Giuki, " Be thou welcome here
then, and take at our hands whatso thou wiliest."
So he went into the king's hall, and all men seemed
little beside him, and all men served him, and there he
abode in great joyance.
Now oft they all ride abroad together, Sigurd and
92 THE STORY OF THE
Gunnar and Hogni, and ever is Sigurd far the foremost
of them, mighty men of their hands though they were.
But Grimhild finds how heartily Sigurd loved Bryn-
hild, and how oft he talks of her ; and she falls to
thinking how well it were, if he might abide there and
wed the daughter of King Giuki, for she saw that none
might come anigh to his goodliness, and what faith and
goodhelp there was in him, and how that he had more
wealth withal than folk might tell of any man ; and the
king did to him even as unto his own sons, and they
for their parts held him of more worth than themselves.
So on a night as they sat at the drink, the queen
arose, and went before Sigurd, and said —
" Great joy we have in thine abiding here, and all
good things AN-ill we put before thee to take of us \ lo
now, take this horn and drink thereof."
So he took it and drank, and therewithal she said,
'' Thy father shall be Giuki the king, and I shall be
thy mother, and Gunnar and Hogni shall be thy bre-
thren, and all this shall be sworn with oaths each to
each ; and then surely shall the like of you never be
found on earth."
Sigurd took her speech well, for with the drinking of
that drink all memory of Brynhild departed from him.
So there he abode awhile.
And on a day went Grimhild to Giuki the king, and
cast her arms about his neck, and spake —
" Behold, there has now come to us the greatest of
great hearts that the world holds ; and needs must
he be trusty and of great avail ; give him thy daughter
then, with plenteous wealth, and as much of rule as he
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 93
will ; perchance thereby he will be well content to abide
here ever."
The king answered, " Seldom does it befall that
kings offer their daughters to any ; yet in higher wise
will it be done to offer her to this man, than to take
lowly prayers for her from others."
On a night Gudrun pours out the drink, and Sigurd
beholds her how fair she is and how full of all courtesy.
Five seasons Sigurd abode there, and ever they
passed their days together in good honour and friend-
ship.
And so it befell that the kings held talk together,
and Giuki said —
" Great good thou givest us, Sigurd, and with exceed-
ing strength thou strengthenest our realm."
Then Gunnar said, " All things that may be will we
do for thee, so thou abidest here long ; both dominion
shalt thou have, and our sister freely and unprayed for,
whom another man would not get for all his prayers."
Sigurd says, " Thanks have ye for this wherewith ye
honour me, and gladly will I take the same."
Therewith they swore brotherhood together, and to
be even as if they were children of one father and one
mother; and a noble feast was holden, and endured
many days, and Sigurd drank at the wedding of him
and Gudrun; and there might men behold all manner
of game and glee, and each day the feast better and
better.
Now fare these folk wide over the world, and do
many great deeds, and slay many kings' sons, and no
man has ever done such works of prowess as did they ;
then home they come again with much wealth won in war.
94 THE STORY OF THE
Sigurd gave of the serpent's heart to Gudrun, and
she ate thereof, and became greater-hearted, and wiser
than ere before : and the son of these twain was called
Sigmund.
Now on a time, went Grimhild to Gunnar her son,
and spake —
" Fair blooms the life and fortune of thee, but for
one thing only, and namely whereas thou art unwedded ;
go woo Brynhild ; good rede is this, and Sigurd will
ride with thee."
Gunnar answered, " Fair is she certes, and I am fain
enow to win her;" and there with he tells his father, and
his brethren, and Sigurd, and they all prick him on to that
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 95
CHAP. XXVII.
The JVooing of Brynhild.
NOW they array them joyously for their journey,
and ride over hill and dale to the house of King
Budli, and woo his daughter of him ; in a good wise
he took their speech, if so be that she herself would not
deny them ; but he said withal that so high-minded was
she, that that man only might wed her whom she
would.
Then they ride to Hlymdale, and there Heimir gave
them good welcome ; so Gunnar tells his errand ; Heimir
says, that she must needs wed but him whom she herself
chose freely ; and tells them how her abode was but a
little way thence, and that he deemed that him only
would she have who should ride through the flaming
fire that was drawn round about her hall ; so they depart
and come to the hall and the fire, and see there a castle
with a golden roof -ridge, and all round about a fire
roaring up.
Now Gunnar rode on Goti, but Hogni on Holkvi,
and Gunnar smote his horse to face the fire, but he
shrank aback.
Then said Sigurd, "Why givest thou back, Gun-
nar?"
He answered, " The horse will not tread this fire \
but lend me thy horse Grani."
96 THE STORY OF THE
" Yea, with all my good will," says Sigurd.
Then Gunnar rides him at the fire, and yet nowise
will Grani stir, nor may Gunnar any the more ride
through that fire. So now they change semblance,
Gunnar and Sigurd, even as Grimhild had taught them ;
then Sigurd in the likeness of Gunnar mounts and rides.
Gram in his hand, and golden spurs on his heels ; then
leapt Grani into the fire when he felt the spurs ; and a
mighty roar arose as the fire burned ever madder, and
the earth trembled, and the flames went up even unto
the heavens, nor had any dared to ride as he rode, even
as it were through the deep mirk.
But now the fire sank withal, and he leapt from his
horse and went into the hall, even as the song says —
The flame flared at its maddest,
Earth's fields fell a-cpaking
As the red flame aloft
Licked the lowest of heaven.
Few had been fain,
Of the rulers of folk,
To ride through that flame.
Or athwart it to tread.
Then Sigurd smote
Grani with sword,
And the flame was slaked
Before the- king ;
Low lay the flames
Before the fain of fame ;
Bright gleamed the array
That Regin erst owned.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 97
Nowwhen Sigurd had passed through the fire, he came
into a certain fair dwelUng, and therein sat Brynhild.
She asked, " What man is it ?"
Then he named himself Gunnar, son of Giuki, and
said — " Thou art awarded to me as my wife, by the good-
will and word of thy father and thy foster-father, and I
have ridden through the flames of thy fire, according to
thy word that thou hast set forth."
" I wot not clearly," said she, " how I shall answer
thee."
Now Sigurd stood upright on the hall floor, and
leaned on the hilt of his sword, and he spake to Bryn-
hild—
" In reward thereof, shall I pay thee a great dower
in gold and goodly things ? "
She answered in heavy mood from her seat, whereas
she sat like unto swan on billow, having a sword in her
hand, and a helm on her head, and being clad in a
byrny, " O Gunnar," she says, " speak not to me of
such things ; unless thou be the first and best of all
men ; for then shalt thou slay those my wooers, if thou
hast heart thereto ; I have been in battles with the king
of the Greeks, and our weapons were stained with red
blood, and for such things still I yearn."
He answered, "Yea, certes many great deeds hast
thou done ; but yet call thou to mind thine oath, con-
cerning the riding through of this fire, wherein thou didst
swear that thou wouldest go with the man who should
do this deed."
So she found that he spake but the sooth, and she
paid heed to his words, and arose, and greeted him
98 THE STORY OF THE
meetly, and he abode there three nights, and they lay
in one bed together ; but he took the sword Gram and
laid it betwixt them : then she asked him why he laid
it there ; and he answered, that in that wise must he
needs wed his wife or else get his bane.
Then she took from off her the ring Andvari's-loom,
which he had given her aforetime, and gave it to him,
but he gave her another ring out of Fafnir's hoard.
Thereafter he rode away through that same fire unto
his fellows, and he and Gunnar changed semblances
again, and rode unto Hlymdale, and told how it had
gone with them.
That same day went Brynhild home to her foster-
father, and tells him as one whom she trusted, how that
there had come a king to her ; " And he rode through
my flaming fire, and said he was come to woo me, and
named himself Gunnar; but I said that such a deed
might Sigurd alone have done, with whom I plighted
troth on the mountain ; and he is my first troth-plight,
and my well-beloved."
Heimir said that things must needs abide even as
now they had now come to pass.
Br}'nhild said, " Aslaug the daughter of me and
Sigurd shall be nourished here with thee."
Now the kings fare home, but Brynhild goes to her
father ; Grimhild welcomes the kings meetly, and thanks
Sigurd for his fellowship ; and withal is a great feast
made, and many were the guests thereat ; and thither
came Budli the King with his daughter Brynhild, and
his son Atli, and for many days did the feast endure :
and at that feast was Gunnar wedded to Brynhild : but
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS.
99
when it was brought to an end, once more has Sigurd
memory of all the oaths that he sware unto Brynhild, yet
withal he let all things abide in rest and peace.
Brynhild and Gunnar sat together in great game and
glee, and drank goodly wine.
THE STOR V OF THE
CHAP. XXVI 11.
How the Queens held angry converse together at the
Bathing.
ON a day as the Queens went to the river to bathe
them, Brynhild waded the farthest out into the
river ; then asked Gudrun what that deed might signify.
Brynhild said, "Yea, and why then should I be
equal to thee in this matter more than in others? I
am minded to think that my father is mightier than
thine, and my true-love has wrought many wondrous
works of fame, and hath ridden the flaming fire withal,
while thy husband was but the thrall of King Hjalprek."
Gudrun answered full of \\Tath, " Thou wouldst be
wise if thou shouldst hold thy peace rather than revile
my husband : lo now, the talk of all men it is, that none
has ever abode in this world like unto him in all matters
soever ; and little it beseems thee of all folk to mock
him who was thy first beloved : and Fafnir he slew,
yea, and he rode thy flaming fire, whereas thou didst
deem that he was Gunnar the King, and by thy side
he lay, and took from thine hand the ring Andvari's-
loom ; — here mayst thou well behold it ! "
Then Brynhild saw the ring and knew it, and waxed
as wan as a dead woman, and she went home and spake
no word the evening long.
VOLS UNGS AND NIBL UNGS. i o i
So when Sigurd came to bed to Gudrun she asked
him why Brynhild's joy was so departed.
He answered, "I know not, but sore I misdoubt me
that soon we shall know thereof overwell."
Gudrun said, " Why may she not love her life,
having wealth and bliss, and the praise of all men, and
the man withal that she would have ? "
" Ah, yea ! " said Sigurd, " and where in all the
world was she then, when she said that she deemed
she had the noblest of all men, and the dearest to her
heart of all ?"
Gudrun answers, " Tomorn will I ask her concern-
ing this, who is the liefest to her of all men for a
husband."
Sigurd said, " Needs must I forbid tliee this, and
full surely wilt thou rue the deed if thou doest it."
Now the next morning they sat in the bower, and
Brynhild was silent ; then spake Gudrun —
" Be merry, Brynhild ! Grievest thou because of
that speech of ours together, or what other thing
slayeth thy bliss?"
Brynhild answers, " With naught but evil intent thou
sayest this, for a cruel heart thou hast."
" Say not so," said Gudrun ; " but rather tell me all
the tale."
Brynhild answers, " Ask such things only as are good
for thee to know — matters meet for mighty dames.
Good to love good things when all goes according to
thy heart's desire ! "
Gudrun says, " Early days for me to glory in that ;
but this word of thine looketh toward some foreseeing.
102 THE STORY OF THE
What ill dost thou thrust at us ? I did naught to grieve
thee."
Brynhild answers, " For this shalt thou pay, in that
thou hast got Sigurd to thee, — nowise can I see thee
iiving in the bliss thereof, whereas thou hast him, and
the wealth and the might of him."
But Gudrun answered, " Naught knew I of your
words and vows together; and well might my father
look to the mating of me without dealing with thee first."
" No secret speech had we," quoth Brynhild,
" though we swore oath together ; and full well didst
thou know that thou wentest about to beguile me ;
verily thou shalt have thy reward !"
Says Gudrun, " Thou art mated better than thou
art worthy of; but thy pride and rage shall be hard
to slake belike, and therefor shall many a man
pay."
" Ah, I should be well content," said Brynhild, " if
thou hadst not the nobler man ! "
Gudrun answers, " So noble a husband hast thou,
that who knows of a greater king or a lord of more
wealth and might ?"
Says Br}'nhild, " Sigurd slew Fafnir, and that only
deed is of more worth than all the might of King
Gunnar."
(f]ven as the song says) :
The worm Sigurd slew,
Nor ere shall that deed
Be worsened by age
While the world is alive :
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 103
But thy brother the King
Never durst, never bore
The flame to ride down
Through the fire to fare.
Gudmn answers, "Grani would not abide the fire
under Gunnar the King, but Sigurd durst the deed, and
thy heart may well abide without mocking him."
Brynhild answers, " Nowise will I hide firom thee
that I deem no good of Grimhild."
Says Gudrun, " Nay, lay no ill words on her, for
in all things she is to thee as to her own daughter."
"Ah," says Brynhild, " she is the beginning of all
this bale that biteth so ; an evil drink she bare to
Sigurd, so that he had no more memory of my very
name."
" All \\Tong thou talkest ; a lie without measure is
this," quoth Gudrun.
Brynhild answered, " Have thou joy of Sigurd ac-
cording to the measure of the wiles wherewith ye have
beguiled me ! unworthily have ye conspired against me ;
may all things go with you as my heart hopes ! "
Gudrun says, " More joy shall I have of him than
thy wish would give unto me : but to no man's mind
it came, that he had aforetime his pleasure of me ; nay
not once."
" Evil speech thou speakest," says Brynhild ; " when
thy wrath runs off thou wilt rue it ; but come now, let us
no more cast angry words one at the other !"
Says Gudrun, "Thou wert the first to cast such
words at me, and now thou makest as if thou wouldst
amend it, but a cruel and hard heart abides behind."
I04 THE STORY OF THE
" Let us lay aside vain babble," says Brj-nhild.
" Long did I hold my peace concerning my sorrow of
heart, and, lo now, thy brother alone do I love ; let us
fall to other talk."
Gudrun said, " Far beyond all this doth thine heart
look."
And so ugly ill befell from that going to the river,
and that knowing of the ring, wherefrom did all their
talk arise.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 105
CHAP. xxrx.
Of BrynhilLVs great Grief and Mourning.
AFTER this talk Brynhild lay a-bed, and tidings
were brought to King Gunnar that Brynhild was
sick; he goes to see her thereon, and asks what ails
her ; but she answered him naught, but lay there as one
dead : and when he was hard on her for an answer, she
said —
"What didst thou with that ring that I gave thee,
even the one which King Budli gave me at our last
parting, when thou and King Giuki came to him and
threatened fire and the sword, unless ye had me to
wife ? Yea, at that time he led me apart, and asked me
which I had chosen of those who were come; but I
prayed him that I might abide to ward the land and be
chief over the third part of his men ; then were there
two choices for me to deal betwixt, either that I should
be wedded to him whom he would, or lose all my weal
and friendship at his hands ; and he said withal that his
friendship would be better to me than his wrath : then I
bethought me whether I should yield to his will, or slay
many a man ; and therewithal I deemed that it would
avail little to strive with him, and so it fell out, that I
promised to wed whomsoever should ride the horse
Grani with Fafnir's Hoard, and ride through my flaming
fire, and slay those men whom I called on him to slay.
io6 THE STORY OF THE
and now so it was, that none durst ride, save Sigurd only,
because he lacked no heart thereto ; yea, and the Worm
he slew, and Regin, and five kings beside ; but thou,
Gunnar, durst do naught ; as pale as a dead man didst
thou wax, and no king thou art, and no champion ; so
whereas I made a vow unto my father, that him alone
would I love who was the noblest man alive, and that
this is none save Sigurd, lo, now have I broken my
oath and brought it to naught, since he is none of
mine, and for this cause shall I compass thy death ; and
a great reward of evil things have I wherewith to reward
Grimhild ; — never, I wot, has woman lived eviler or of
lesser heart than she."
Gunnar answered in such wise that few might hear
him, " Many a vile word hast thou spoken, and an evil-
hearted woman art thou, whereas thou revilest a woman
far better than thou ; never would she curse her life as
thou dost ; nay, nor has she tormented dead folk, or
murdered any; but lives her life well praised of all."
Brynhild answered, " Never have I dealt with evil
things privily, or done loathsome deeds ; — yet most fain
I am to slay thee."
And therewith would she slay King Gunnar, but
Hogni laid her in fetters ; but then Gunnar spake
withal —
" Nay, I will not that she abide in fetters."
Then said she, " Heed it not ! for never again seest
thou me glad in thine hall, never drinking, never at the
chess-play, never speaking the words of kindness, never
overlaying the fair cloths with gold, never giving thei
good counsel ; — -ah, my sorrow of heart that I might not
get Sigurd to me ! "
VOLS UNGS AND NIBL UNGS. i o 7
Then she sat up and smote her needlework, and
rent it asunder, and bade set open her bower doors,
that far away might the waiUngs of her sorrow be heard ;
then great mourning and lamentation there was, so that
folk heard it far and wide through that abode.
Now Gudrun asked her bower-maidens why they sat
so joyless and downcast, "What has come to you, that
ye fare ye as witless women, or what unheard-of wonders
have befallen you?"
Then answered a waiting lady, hight Swaflod, " An
untimely, an evil day it is, and our hall is fulfilled of
lamentation."
Then spake Gudrun to one of her handmaids, "Arise,
for we have slept long ; go, wake Brynhild, and let us fall
to our needlework and be merry."
" Nay, nay," she says, " nowise may I wake her,
or talk with her ; for many days has she drunk neither
mead nor wine ; surely the wrath of the Gods has fallen
upon her."
Then spake Gudrun to Gunnar, " Go and see her,"
she says, " and bid her know that I am grieved with
her grief"
" Nay," says Gunnar, " I am forbid to go see her or
to share her weal."
Nevertheless he went unto her, and strives in many
wise to have speech of her, but gets no answer whatso-
ever : therefore he gets him gone and finds Hogni, and
bids him go see her : he said he was loth thereto, but
went, and gat no more of her.
Then they go and find Sigurd, and pray him to visit
her ; he answered naught thereto, and so matters abode
for that night.
io8 THE STORY OF THE
But the next day, when he came home from hunting,
Sigurd went to Gudrun, and spake —
" In such Avise do matters show to me, as though
great and evil things will betide from this trouble and
upheaving, and that Brynhild will surely die."
Gudrun answers, " O my lord, by great wonders is
she encompassed, seven days and seven nights has she
slept, and none has dared wake her."
" Nay, she sleeps not," said Sigurd, " her heart is
dealing rather with dreadful intent against me."
Then said Gudrun, weeping, " Woe worth the while
for thy death ! go and see her ; and wot if her fury may
not be abated ; give her gold, and smother up her grief
and anger thereA\ith !"
Then Sigurd went out, and found the door of Brj-n-
hild's chamber open ; he deemed she slept, and drew
the clothes from off her, and said —
"Awake, Brynhild ! the sun shineth now over all the
house, and thou hast slept enough ; cast off grief from
thee, and take up gladness ! "
She said, " And how then hast thou dared to come
to me? in this treason none w-as worse to me than thou."
Said Sigurd, " Why wilt thou not speak to folk ? for
what cause sorrowest thou ?"
Brjmhild answers, "Ah, to thee will I tell of my
WTath ! "
Sigurd said, " As one under a spell art thou, if thou
deemest that there is aught cruel in my heart against
thee ; but thou hast him for husband whom thou didst
choose."
" Ah, nay," she said, " never did Gunnar ride through
the fire to me, nor did he give me to dower the host of
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 109
the slain : I wondered at the man who came into my
hall ; for I deemed indeed that I knew thine eyes ; but
I might not see clearly, or divide the good from the evil,
because of the veil that lay heavy on my fortune."
Says Sigurd, " No nobler men are there than the sons
of Giuki, they slew the king of the Danes, and that great
chief the brother of King Budli."
Brynhild answered, "Surely for many an ill deed
must I reward them ; mind me not of my griefs against
them ! But thou, Sigurd, slewest the Worm, and rodest
the fire through ; yea, and for my sake, and not one of
the sons of King Giuki."
Sigurd answers, " I am not thy husband, and thou
art not my wife ; yet did a farfamed king pay dower to
thee."
Says Brynhild, " Never looked I at Gunnar in such a
wise that my heart smiled on him \ and hard and fell am
I to him, though I hide it from others.' '
" A marvellous thing," says Sigurd, "not to love such
a king; what angers thee most ? for surely his love should
be better to thee than gold."
" This is the sorest sorrow to me," she says, " that
the bitter sword is not reddened in thy blood."
"Have no fear thereof!" says he, " no long while to
wait or the bitter sword stand deep in my heart ; and no
worse needest thou to pray for thyself, for thou wilt not
live when I am dead ; the days of our two lives shall be
few enough from henceforth."
Brynhild answers, " Enough and to spare of bale is
in thy speech, since thou bewrayedst me, and didst twin
me and all bliss ; — naught do I heed my life or death."
Sigurd answers, " Ah, live, and love King Gunnar
no THE STORY OF THE
and me withal ! and all my wealth will I give thee if thou
die not."
Brynhild answers, " Thou knowest me not, nor the
heart that is in me ; for thou art the first and best of all
men, and I am become the most loathsome of all women
to thee."
" This is truer," says Sigurd, " that I loved thee better
than myself, though I fell into the wiles from whence
our lives may not escape ; for whenso my own heart and
mind availed me, then I sorrowed sore that thou wert
not my wife ; but as I might I put my trouble from me,
for in a king's dwelling was I ; and withal and in spite
of all I was well content that we were all together.
Well may it be, that that shall come to pass which is
foretold ; neither shall I fear the fulfilment thereof"
Brynhild answered, and said, " Too late thou tellest
me that my grief grieved thee : little pity shall I find now."
Sigurd said, " This my heart would, that thou and I
should go into one bed together ; even so wouldst thou
be my wife."
Said Brynhild, "Such words may nowise be spoken,
nor will I have two kings in one hall ; I will lay my life
down rather than beguile Gunnar the King."
And there\vith she calls to mind how they met, they
two, on the mountain, and swore oath each to each.
" But now is all changed, and I will not live."
" I might not call to mind thy name," said Sigurd,
" or know thee again, before the time of thy wedding ;
the greatest of all griefs is that."
Then said Brynhild, " I swore an oath to wed the
man w'ho should ride my flaming fire, and that oath will
I hold to, or die."
VOLS UNGS AND NIBL UNGS. 1 1 1
" Rather than thou die, I will wed thee, and put
away Gudnm," said Sigurd.
But therewithal so swelled the heart betwixt the sides
of him, that the rings of his bymy burst asunder.
" I will not have thee," says Brynhild, " nay, nor any
other ! "
Then Sigurd got him gone.
So saith the song of Sigurd —
" Out then went Sigurd,
The great kings' well-loved.
From the speech and the sorrow,
Sore drooping, so grieving.
That the shirt round about him
Of iron rings woven,
From the sides brake asunder
Of the brave in the battle."
So when Sigurd came into the hall, Gunnar asked if he
had come to a knowledge of whjit great grief lay heavy
on her, or if she had power of speech : and Sigurd said
that she lacked it not. So now Gunnar goes to her
again, and asked her, what wrought her woe, or if there
were anything that might amend it.
" I will not live," says Brynhild, " for Sigurd has
bewrayed me, yea, and thee no less, whereas thou didst
suffer him to come into my bed : lo thou, two men in one
dwelling I will not have ; and this shall be Sigurd's death,
or thy death, or my death ; — for now has he told Gud-
run all, and she is mocking me even now ! "
THE STORY OF 2nE
CHAPTER XXX.
Of the Slaying of Sigurd Fafnir'' s-bane.
THEREAFTER Brynhild went out, and sat under
her bower-wall, and had many words of wailing
to say, and still she cried that all things were loathsome
to her, both land and lordship alike, so she might not
have Sigurd.
But therewith came Gunnar to her yet again, and
Brynhild spake, " Thou shalt lose both realm and wealth,
and thy life and me, for I shall fare home to my kin,
and abide there in sorrow, unless thou slayest Sigurd and
his son ; never nourish -lihou a wolfcub."
Gunnar grew sick at heart thereat, and might no-
vidse see what fearful thing lay beneath it all ; he was
bound to Sigurd by oath, and this way and that way
swung the heart within him ; but at the last he be-
thought him of the measureless shame if his -wife went
from him, and he said \vithin himself, " Brynliild is better
to me than all things else, and the fairest woman of all
women, and I will lay down my life rather than lose the
love of her." And therewith he called to him his
brother and spake, —
" Trouble is heavy on me," and he tells him that
he must needs slay Sigurd, for that he has failed him
VOLS UNGS AND NIBL UNGS. 1 1 3
wherein he trusted him ; " so let us be lords of the gold
and the realm withal."
Hogni answers, " 111 it behoves us to break our
oaths with wrack and wrong, and withal great aid we
have in him ; no kings shall be as great as we, if so be
the King of the Hun-folk may live ; such another brother-
in-law never may Ave get again ; bethink thee how good
it is to have such a brother-in-law, and such sons to our
sister ! But well I see how things stand, for this has
Brynhild stirred thee up to, and surely shall her counsel
drag us into huge shame and scathe."
Gunnar says, " Yet shall it be brought about : and
lo, a rede thereto ; — ^let us egg on our brother Guttorm to
the deed ; he is young, and of little knowledge, and is
clean out of all the oaths moreover."
" Ah, set about in ill wise," says Hogni, " and
though indeed it may well be compassed, a due reward
shall we gain for the bewrayal of such a man as is
Sigurd."
Gunnar says, " Sigurd shall die or I shall die."
And therewith he bids Brynhild arise and be glad
at heart : so she arose, and still ever she said that
Gunnar should come no more into her bed till the
deed was done.
So the brothers fall to talk, and Gunnar says that it
is a deed well worthy of death, that taking of Brynhild's
maidenhead ; " So come now, let us prick on Guttorm
to do the deed."
Therewith they call him to them, and offer him gold
and great dominion, as they well have might to do.
Yea, and they took a certain worm and somewhat of
I
114 THE STORY OF THE
wolfs flesh and let seethe them together, and gave him
to eat of the same, even as the singer sings —
Fish of the wild-wood,
Worm smooth crawling,
With wolf-meat mingled.
They minced for Guttorm ;
Then in the beaker,
In the wine his mouth knew,
They set it, still doing
More deeds of wizards.
Wherefore with the eating of this meat he grew so
wild and eager, and with all things about him, and
wdth the heavy words of Grimhild, that he gave his
word to do the deed ; and mighty honour they promised
him in reward thereof
But of these evil wiles naught at all knew Sigurd,
for he might not deal with his shapen fate, nor the measure
of his life-days, neither deemed he that he was worthy
of such things at their hands.
So Guttorm went in to Sigurd the next morning as
he lay upon his bed, yet durst he not do aught against
him, but shrank back out again; yea, and even so he
fared a second time, for so bright and eager were the
eyes of Sigurd that few durst look upon him. But the
third time he went in, and there lay Sigurd asleep ; then
Guttorm drew his sword and thrust Sigurd through in
such wise that the sword-point smote into the bed
beneath him ; then Sigurd awoke with that wound, and
Guttonn gat him unto the door; but therewith Sigurd
VOLS UNGS AND NIBL UNGS. 1 1 5
caught up the sword Gram, and cast it after him, and it
smote him on the back, and struck him asunder in the
midst, so that the feet of him fell one way, and the head
and hands back into the chamber.
Now Gudrun lay asleep on Sigurd's bosom, but she
woke up unto woe that may not be told of, all swimming
in the blood of him, and in such wise did she bewail her
with weeping and words of sorrow, that Sigurd rose up
on the bolster, and spake.
" Weep not," said he, " for thy brothers live for thy
delight ; but a young son have I, too young to be ware of
his foes ; — and an ill turn have these played against their
own fortune ; for never will they get a mightier brother-in-
law to ride abroad with them ; nay, nor a better son to their
sister, than this one, if he may grow to man's estate. Lo,
now is that come to pass which was foretold me long ago,
but from mine eyes has it been hidden, for none may fight
against his fate and prevail. Behold this has Brynhild
brought to pass, even she who loves me before all men ;
but this may I swear, that never have I wrought ill to
Gunnar, but rather have ever held fast to my oath with
him, nor was I ever too much a friend to his wife. And
now if I had been forewarned, and had been afoot with
my weapons, then should many a man have lost his life
or ever I had fallen, and all those brethren should have
been slain, and a harder work would the slaying of me
have been than the slaying of the mightiest bull or the
mightiest boar of the wild-wood."
And even therewithal life left the King ; but Gudrun
moaned and drew a weary breath, and Brynhild heard it,
and laughed when she heard her moaning.
Then said Gunnar, " Thou laughest not because thy
1 1 6 THE STOR V OF THE
heart-roots are gladded, or else why doth thy visage wax
so wan ? Sure an evil creature thou art ; most like
thou art nigh to thy death ! Lo now, how meet would
it be for thee to behold thy brother Atli slain before
thine eyes, and that thou shouldst stand over him dead ;
whereas we must needs now stand over our brother-in-
law in such a case, — our brother-in-law and our brother's
bane."
She answered, " None need mock at the measure of
slaughter being unfulfilled ; yet heedeth not Atli your
\vrath or your threats ; yea, he shall live longer than ye,
and be a mightier man."
Hogni spake and said, " Now hath come to pass the
soothsaying of Br)aihild ; an ill work not to be atoned
for."
And Gudnm said, " My kinsmen have slain my
husband ; — but ye, when ye next ride to the war and are
come into the battle, then shall ye look about and see
that Sigurd is neither on the right hand nor the left, and
ye shall know that he was your good-hap and your
strength ; and if he had lived and had sons, then should
ve have been strengthened by his offspring and his kin.''
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS.
CHAP. XXXL
Of the Lamentation of Giidrun over Sigurd dead, as it is
told in the ancient Songs.
GUDRUN of old days
Drew near to dying
As she sat in sorrow
Over Sigurd ;
Yet she sighed not
Nor smote hand on hand,
Nor wailed she aughtj
As other women.
Then Avent earls to her,
Full of all wisdom,
Fain help to deal
To her dreadful heart :
Hushed was Gudnm
Of wail, or greeting', ,
But with heavy woe
Was her heart a-breaking.
Bright and fair
Sat the great earls' brides,
Gold arrayed
[t8 the story of the
Before Gudrun ;
Each told the tale
Of her great trouble
The bitterest bale
She erst abode.
Then spake Giaflaug,
Giuki's sister :
" Lo upon earth
I live most loveless,
Who of five mates
Must see the ending,
Of daughters twain
And three sisters,
Of brethren eight,
And abide behind lonely."
Naught gat Gudrun
Of wail or greeting.
So heavy was she
For her dead husband
So dreadful-hearted
For the King laid dead there.
Then spake Herborg,
Queen of Hunland —
" Crueller tale
Have I to tell of,
Of my seven sons
Down in the Southlands,
And the eighth man, my mate,
Felled in tlie death-mead.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS.
" Father and mother,
And four brothers,
On the wide sea
The winds and death played with ,
The billows beat
On the bulwark boards.
" Alone must I sing o'er them.
Alone must I array them.
Alone must my hands deal with
Their departing ;
And all this was
In one season's wearing,
And none was left
For love or solace.
" Then was I bound
A prey of the battle,
When that same season
Wore to its ending ;
As a tiring may
Must I bind the shoon
Of the duke's high dame,
Every day at dawning.
From her jealous hate
Gat I heavy mocking,
Cruel lashes
She laid upon me.
Never met I
Better master
Or mistress worser
In all the wide world."
THE STORY OF THE
Naught gat Gudrun
Of wail or greeting,
So heavy was she
For her dead husband,
xSo dreadful-hearted
For the King laid dead there.
Then spake Gullrond,
Giuki's daughter —
" O foster-mother,
Wise as thou mayst be.
Naught canst thou better
The young wife's bale."
And she bade uncover
The dead King's corpse.
She «wept the sheet
Away from Sigurd,
And turned his cheek
Toward his wife's knees —
" Look on thy loved one
Lay lips to his lips,
E'en as thou wert clinging
To thy king alive yet ! "
Once looked Gudrun —
One look only,
And saw her lord's locks
Lying all bloody,
The great man's eyes
Glazed and deadly.
And his heart's bulwark
Broken by sword-edge.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS.
Back then sank Gudrun,
Back on the bolster,
Loosed was her head array,
Red did her cheeks grow,
And the rain-drops ran
Down over her knees.
Then wept Gudrun,
Giuki's daughter.
So that the tears flowed
Through the pillow ;
As the geese withal
That were in the homefield,
The fair fowls the may owned,
Fell a-screaming.
Then spake Gullrond,
Giuki's daughter —
" Surely knew I
No love like your love
Among all men,
On the mould abiding ;
Naught wouldst thou joy in
Without or within doors,
O my sister.
Save beside Sigurd."
Then spake Gudrun,
Giuki's daughter —
" Such was my Sigurd
Among the sons of Giuki,
THE STORY OF THE
As is the king leek
O'er the low grass waxing,
Or a bright stone
Strung on band,
Or a pearl of price
On a prince's brow.
" Once was I counted
By the king's warriors
Higher than any
Of Herjan's mays ;
Now am I as little
As the leaf may be.
Amid wind-swept wood
Now when dead he lieth,
" I miss from my seat,
I miss from my bed,
My darling of sweet speech.
Wrought the sons of Giuki,
AVrought the sons of Giuki,
This sore sorrow.
Yea, for their sister,
Most sore sorrow.
" So may your lands
Lie waste on all sides,
As ye have broken
Your bounden oaths !
Ne'er shalt thou Gunnar
The gold have joy of.
VOLS UNGS AND NIBL UNGS. 1 23
The dear-bought rings
Shall drag thee to death,
Whereon thou swarest
Oath unto Sigurd.
"Ah, in the days by-gone
Great mirth in the homefield.
When my Sigurd
Set saddle on Grani,
And they went their ways
For the wooing of Brynhild !
An ill day, an ill woman,
And most ill hap ! "
Then spake Brynhild,
Budli's daughter —
" May the woman lack
Both love and children,
Who gained greeting
For thee, O Gudrun !
Who gave thee this morning
Many words !"
Then spake Gullrond,
Giuki's daughter —
" Hold peace of such words
Thou hated of all folk !
The bane of brave men
Hast thou been ever.
All waves of ill
Wash over thy mind.
To seven great kings
Hast thou been a sore sorrow,
[54 THE STORY OF THE
And the death of good will
To wives and women."
Then spake Brynhild,
Budli's daughter —
" None but Atli
Brought bale upon us,
My very brother
Born of Budli.
" When we saw in the hall
Of the Hunnish people
The gold a-gleaming
On the kingly Giukings ;
I have paid for that faring
Oft and fully,
And for the sight
That then I saw."
By a pillar she stood
And strained its wood to her ;
From the eyes of Brynhild,
Budli's daughter.
Flashed out fire,
And she snorted forth venom,
As the sore wounds she gazed on
Of the dead-slain Sigurd.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 125
CHAP. XXXII.
Of the Ending of BrynJiild.
AND now none might know for what cause Brynhild
must bewail with weeping for what she had
prayed for with laughter : but she spake —
" Such a dream I had, Gunnar, as that my bed was
acold, and that thou didst ride into the hands of thy foes :
lo now, ill shall it go with thee and all thy kin, O ye
breakers of oaths; for on the day thou slayedst him,
dimly didst thou remember how thou didst blend thy
blood with the blood of Sigurd, and with an ill reward
hast thou rewarded him for all that he did well to thee ;
whereas he gave unto thee to be the mightiest of men ;
and well was it proven how fast he held to his oath
sworn, when he came to me and laid betwixt us the
sharp-edged sword that in venom had been made hard.
All too soon did ye fall to working wrong against him
and against me, whenas I abode at home with my
father, and had all that I would, and had no will that
any one of you should be any of mine, as ye rode into
our garth, ye three kings together ; but then Atli led me
apart privily, and asked me if I would not have him who
rode Grani; — yea, a man nowise like unto you; but in those
days I plighted myself to the son of King Sigmund and
126 THE STORY OF THE
no other; and lo now, no better shall ye fare for the
death of me."
Then rose up Gunnar, and laid his amis about her
neck, and besought her to live and have wealth from him ;
and all others in likewise letted her from djang \ but she
thrust them all from her, and said that it was not the part
of any to let her in that which was her will.
Then Gunnar called to Hogni, and prayed him for
counsel, and bade him go to her, and see if he might
perchance soften her dreadful heart, saying wathal, that
now they had need enough on their hands in the slaking
of her grief, till time might get over.
But Hogni answered, " Nay, let no man hinder her
from dying ; for no gain wll she be to us, nor has she
been gainsome since she came hither ! "
Now she bade bring forth much gold, and bade all
those come thither who would have wealth : then she
caught up a sword, and thrust it under her armpit, and
sank aside upon the pillows, and said, " Come, take gold
whoso will ! "
But all held their peace, and she said, " Take the
gold and be glad thereof ! "
And therewith she spake unto Gunnar, " Now for a
little while will I tell of that which shall come to pass
hereafter ; for speedily shall ye be at one again with
Gudrun by the rede of Grimhild the Wise-wife ; and the
daughter of Gudrun and Sigurd shall be called Swan-
hild, the fairest of all women born. Gudrun shall be
given to Atli, yet not wth her good will. Thou shalt be
fain to get Oddrun, but that shall Atli forbid thee ; but
privily shall ye meet, and much shall she love thee.
Atli shall be^^Tay thee, and cast thee into a worm-close.
VOLS UNGS AND NIBL UNGS. 1 2 7
and thereafter shall Atli and his sons be slain, and
Gudrun shall be their slayer; and afterwards shall the
great waves bear her to the burg of King Jonakr, to
whom she shall bear sons of great fame : Swanhild shall
be sent from the land and given to King Jormunrek;
and her shall bite the rede of Bikki, and therewithal is
the kin of you clean gone \ and more sorrows therewith
for Gudrun.
" And now I pray thee, Gunnar, one last boon. — Let
make a great bale on the plain meads for all of us ;
for me, and for Sigurd, and for those who were slain
with him, and let that be covered over with cloth dyed red
by the folk of the Gauls, and burn me thereon on one side
of the King of the Huns, and on the other those men of
mine, two at the head and two at the feet, and two
hawks withal ; and even so is all shared equally ; and
lay there betwixt us a drawn sword, as in the other days
when we twain stepped into one bed together ; and then
may we have the name of man and wife, nor shall the
door swing to at the heel of him as I go behind him.
Nor shall that be a niggard company if there follow him
those five bondwomen and eight bondmen, whom my
father gave me, and those burn there withal who were
slain with Sigurd.
" Now more yet would I say, but for my wounds,
but my life-breath flits ; the wounds open, — yet have I
said sooth."
Now is the dead corpse of Sigurd arrayed in olden
wise, and a mighty bale is raised, and when it was
somewhat kindled, there was laid thereon the dead
corpse ©f Sigurd Fafnir's-bane, and his son of three
128 THE STORY OF THE
winters whom Brynhild had let slay, and Guttorm
Avithal ; and when the bale was all ablaze, thereunto
was Brynhild borne out, when she had spoken with her
bower-maidens, and bid them take the gold that she
would give ; and then died Brj'nhild and was burned
there by the side of Sigurd, and thus their life-days ended.
VOLS UNGS AND NIBL UNGS. 1 2 9
CHAP. XXXIII.
Gudrun wedded to Atli.
NOW so it is, that whoso heareth these tidings,
sayeth, that no such an one as was Sigurd was
left behind him in the world, nor ever was such a man
brought forth because of all the worth of him, nor may
his name ever minish by eld in the Dutch Tongue nor
in all the Northern Lands, while the world standeth fast.
The story tells that, on a day, as Gudrun sat in her
bower, she fell to saying, " Better was life in those days
when I had Sigurd ; he who was as far above other men
as gold is above iron, or the leek over other grass of the
field, or the hart over other wild things ; until my
brethren begrudged me such a man, the first and best of
all men ; and so they might not sleep or they had slain
him. Huge clamour made Grani when he saw his
master and lord sore wounded, and then I spoke to him
even as with a man, but he fell drooping down to earth,
for he knew that Sigurd was slain."
Thereafter Gudrun gat her gone into the wild woods,
and heard on all ways round about her the howling of
wolves, and deemed death a merrier thing than life.
Then she went till she came to the hall of King Alf, and
sat there in Denmark with Thora, the daughter of
Hakon, for seven seasons, and abode with good wel-
ISO THE STORY OF THE
come. And she set forth her needlework before her,
and did thereinto many deeds and great, and fair plays
after the fashion of those days, swords and byrnies, and
all the gear of kings, and the ship of King Sigmund
sailing along the land ; yea, and they wrought there,
how they fought, Sigar and Siggeir, south in Fion. Such
was their disport ; and now Gudrun was somewhat
solaced of her grief
So Grimhild comes to hear where Gudrun has taken
up her abode, and she calls her sons to talk -with her,
and asks whether they -wall make atonement to Gudrun
for her son and her husband, and said that it was but
meet and right to do so.
Then Gunnar spake, and said that he would atone
for her sorrows with gold.
So they send for their friends, and array their horses,
their helms, and their shields, and their byrnies, and all
their war-gear ; and their journey was furnished forth in
the noblest wise, and no champion who was of the great
men might abide at home; and their horses were clad
in mail-coats, and every knight of them had his helm
done over with gold or with silver.
Grimhild was of their company, for she said that
their errand would never be brought fairly to pass if she
sat at home.
They were well five hundred men, and noble men
rode with them. There was Waldemar of Denmark, and
Eymod and Jarisleif withal. So they went into the
hall of King Alf, and there abode them the Long-
beards, and Franks, and Saxons : they fared with all
their war-gear, and had over them red fur-coats. Even
as the song says —
VOLS UNGS AND NIBL UNGS. 1 3 1
Byrnies short cut,
Strong helms hammered,
Girt with good swords,
Red hair gleaming.
They were fain to choose good gifts for their sister,
and spake softly to her, but in none of them would she
trow. Then Gunnar brought unto her a drink mingled
with hurtful things, and this she must needs drink, and
with the drinking thereof she had no more memory of
their guilt against her.
But in that drink was blended the might of the earth
and the sea with the blood of her son; and in that
horn were all letters cut and reddened with blood, as is
said hereunder —
On the horn's face were there
All the kin of letters
Cut aright and reddened.
How should I rede them righdy?
The ling-fish long
Of the land of Hadding
Wheat-ears unshorn.
And wild things' inwards.
In that beer were mingled
Many ills together.
Blood of all the wood
And brown-burnt acorns.
The black dew of the hearth.
The God-doomed dead beast's inwards,
And the swine's liver sodden
Because all wrongs that deadens.
132 THE STORY OF THE
And so now, when their hearts are brought anigh to
each other, great cheer they made : then came Grimhild
to Gudrun, and spake —
"All hail to thee, daughter! I give thee gold and
all kinds of good things to take to thee after thy father,
dear-bought rings and bed-gear of the maids of the
Huns, the most courteous and well dight of all women ;
and thus is thy husband atoned for ; and thereafter shalt
thou be given to Atli, the mighty king, and be mistress
of all his might. Cast not all thy friends aside for one
man's sake, but do according to our bidding."
Gudrun answers, " Never will I wed Atli the King :
unseemly it is for us to get offspring betwixt us."
Grimhild says, " Nourish not thy wrath ; it shall be
to thee as if Sigurd and Sigmund were alive when thou
hast borne sons."
Gudrun says, " I cannot take my heart from thoughts
of him, for he was the first of all men."
Grimhild says, " So is it shapen that thou must have
this king and none else."
Says Gudrun, " Give not this man to me, for an evil
thing shall come upon thy kin from him, and to his own
sons shall he deal evil, and be rewarded with a grim
revenge thereafter."
Then waxed Grimhild fell at those words, and spake,
" Do even as we bid thee, and take therefore great
honour, and our friendship, and the steads Avithal called
Vinbjorg and Valbjorg."
And such might was in the words of her, that even
so must it come to pass.
Then Gudrun spake, " Thus then must it needs
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 133
befall, howsoever against the will of me, and for little joy
shall it be and for great grief"
Then men leaped on their horses, and their women
were set in wains. So they fared four days a-riding and
other four a shipboard, and yet four more again by land
and road, till at the last they came to a certain high-
built hall ; then came to meet Gudrun many folk
thronging ; and an exceeding goodly feast was there
made, even as the word had gone between either kin,
and it passed forth in most proud and stately wise. And
at that feast drinks Atli his bridal with Gudrun ; but
never did her heart laugh on him, and little sweet and
kind was their life together.
[34 THE STORY OF THE
CHAP. XXXIV.
Atli bids the Ghikings to him.
NOW tells the tale that on a night King Atli woke
from sleep and spake to Gudrun —
" Medreamed," said he, " that thou didst thrust me
through with a sword."
Then Gudrun areded the dream, and said that it
betokened fire, whenas folk dreamed of iron. " It befalls
of thy pride belike, in that thou deemest thyself the first
of men."
Atli said, " Moreover I dreamed that here waxed
two sorb-tree saplings, and fain I was that they should
have no scathe of me ; then these w-ere riven up by the
roots and reddened -with blood, and borne to the bench,
and I was bidden eat thereof
" Yea, yet again I dreamed that tv\'0 hawks flew from
my hand hungry and unfed, and fared to hell, and
meseemed their hearts were mingled with honey, and
that I ate thereof
" And then again I dreamed that two fair whelps lay
before me yelling aloud, and that the flesh of them I ate,
though my will went not with the eating."
Gudrun says, " Nowse good are these dreams, yet
shall they come to pass; surely thy sons are nigh to
death, and many heavy things shall fall upon us."
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 135
" Yet again, I dreamed," said he, " and methought
I lay in a bath, and folk took counsel to slay me."
Now these things wear away with time, but in nowise
was their life together fond.
Now falls Atli to thinking, of where may be gotten
that plenteous gold which Sigurd had owned, but King
Gunnar and his brethren were lords thereof now.
Atli was a great king and mighty, wise and a lord
of many men ; and now he falls to counsel with his folk
as to the ways of them. He wotted well that Gunnar
and his brethren had more wealth than any others might
have; and so he falls to the rede of sending men to
them, and bidding them to a great feast, and honouring
them in diverse wise, and the chief of those messengers
was hight Vingi.
Now the queen wots of their conspiring, and mis-
doubts her that this would mean some beguiling of her
brethren : so she cut runes, and took a gold ring and
knit therein a wolf's hair, and gave it into the hands of
the king's messengers.
Thereafter they go their ways according to the king's
bidding ; and or ever they came aland Vingi beheld the
runes, and turned them about in such a wise, as if
Gudrun prayed her brethren in her runes to go meet
King Atli.
Thereafter they came to the hall of King Gunnar,
and had good welcome at his hands, and great fires
were made for them, and in great joyance they drank of
the best of drink.
Then spake Vingi, " King Atli sends me hither, and
is fain that ye go to his house and home in all glory,
and take of him exceeding honours, helms and shields.
136 THE STORY OF THE
swords and byrnies, gold and goodly raiment, horses,
hosts of war, and great and wide lands, for, saith he, he
is fainest of all things to bestow his realm and lordship
upon you."
Then Gunnar turned his head aside, and spoke to
Hogni —
" In what wise shall we take this bidding ? might and
wealth he bids us take ; but no kings know I who have
so much gold as we have, whereas we have all the hoard
which lay once on Gnitaheath ; and great are our
chambers, and full of gold, and weapons for smiting, and
all kinds of raiment of war, and well I wot that amidst
all men my horse is the best, and my sword the sharpest,
and my gold the most glorious."
Hogni answers, " A marvel is it to me of his bid-
ding, for seldom hath he done in such a wise, and ill-
counselled will it be to wend to him ; lo now, when I
saw those dear-bought things the king sends us I won-
dered to behold a wolf's hair knit to a certain gold ring ;
belike Gudrun deems him to be minded as a wolf
towards us, and will have naught of our faring."
But withal Vingi shows him the runes which he said
Gudrun had sent.
Now the most of folk go to bed, but these drank on
still with certain others; and Kostbera, the wife of
Hogni, the fairest of women, came to them, and looked
on the runes.
But the wife of Gunnar was Glaumvor, a great-
hearted wife.
So these twain poured out, and the kings drank,
and were exceeding drunken, and Vingi notes it, and
says —
VOLS UNGS AND NIBL UNGS. 137
" Naught may I hide that King Atli is heavy of
foot and over-old for the warding of his realm ; but his
sons are young and of no account : now wll he give you
rule over his realms while they are yet thus young, and
most fain will he be that ye have the joy thereof before
all others."
Now so it befell both that Gunnar was drunk, and that
great dominion was held out to him, nor might he work
against the fate shapen for him ; so he gave his word to
go, and tells Hogni his brother thereof.
But he answered, " Thy word given must even stand
now, nor will I fail to follow thee, but most loth am I
to this journey."
X3S 7HE STORY OF 2HE
CHAP. XXXV.
The Dreams of the Wives of the Giukings.
SO when men had drunk their fill, they fared to
sleep ; then falls Kostbera to beholding the runes,
and spelling over the letters, and sees that beneath were
other things cut, and that the runes are guileful; yet
because of her wisdom she had skill to read them aright.
So then she goes to bed by her husband ; but when they
awoke, she spake unto Hogni —
"Thou art minded to wend away from home — ill-
counselled is that ; abide till another time ! Scarce a
keen reader of runes art thou, if thou deemest thou hast
beheld in them the bidding of thy sister to this journey :
lo, I read the runes, and had marvel of so wise a woman
as Gudrun is, that she should have miscut them ; but
that which lieth underneath beareth your bane with it,^ —
yea, either she lacked a letter, or others have dealt
guilefully with the runes.
"And now hearken to my dream ; for therein me-
thought there fell in upon us here a river exceeding
strong, and brake up the timbers of the hall."
He answered, "Full oft are ye evil of mind, ye
women, but for me, I was not made in such wise as to
meet men with evil who deserve no evil ; belike he
will give us good welcome."
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 139
She answered, " Well, the thing must ye yourselves
prove, but no friendship follows this bidding : — but yet
again I dreamed that another river fell in here with a
great and grimly rush, and tore up the dais of the hall,
and brake the legs of both you brethren; surely that
betokeneth somewhat."
He answers, " Meadows along our way, whereas
thou didst dream of the river ; for when we go through
the meadows, plentifully doth the seeds of the hay hang
about our legs."
" Again I dreamed," she says, " that thy cloak was
afire, and that the flame blazed up above the hall."
Says he, " Well, I wot what that shall betoken, here
lieth my fair-dyed raiment, and it shall burn and blaze,
whereas thou dreamedst of the cloak."
" Methought a bear came in," she says, "and brake
up the king's high-seat, and shook his paws in such a
wise that we were all adrad thereat, and he gat us all
together into the mouth of him, so that we might avail
us naught, and thereof fell great horror on us."
He answered, " Some great storm will befall, whereas
thou hadst a white bear in thy mind."
" An erne methought came in," she says, " and swept
adown the hall, and drenched me and all of us with
blood, and ill shall that betoken, for methought it was
the double of King Atli."
He answered, " Full oft do we slaughter beasts
freely, and smite down great neat for our cheer, and the
dream of the erne has but to do with oxen ; yea, AtU is
heart-whole toward us."
And therewithal they cease this talk.
I40 THE STORY OF THE
N
CHAP. XXXVI.
Of the Journey of the Gin kings to King A Hi.
OW tells the tale of Gunnar, that in the same wise
it fared with him ; for when they awoke, Glaum-
vor his wife told him many dreams which seemed to
her like to betoken guile coming ; but Gunnar areded
them all in other wise.
" This was one of them," said she ; " methought a
bloody sword was borne into the hall here, wherewith
thou wert thrust through, and at either end of that sword
wolves howled."
The king answered, " Cur dogs shall bite me belike,
blood-stained weapons oft betoken dogs' snappings."
She said, " Yet again I dreamed — that women came
in, heavy and drooping, and chose thee for their mate ;
mayhappen these would be thy fateful women."
He answered, " Hard to arede is this, and none
may set aside the fated measure of his days, nor is it
unlike that my time is short."
So in the morning they arose, and were minded for
the journey, but some letted them herein.
Then cried Gunnar to the man who is called
Fjornir —
" Arise and give us to drink goodly wine from great
tuns, because mayhappen this shall be very last of all
VOLS UNGS AND NIBL UNGS. 1 4 1
our feasts ; for belike if we die the old wolf shall come
by the gold, and that bear shall nowise spare the bite of
his war-tusks."
Then all the folk of his household brought them on
their way weeping.
The son of Hogni said —
" Fare ye well with merry tide."
The more part of their folk were left behind ; Solar
and Gnœvar, the sons of Hogni, fared with them, and a
certain great champion, named Orkning, who was the
brother of Kostbera.
So folk followed them down to the ships, and all
letted them of their journey, but attained to naught
therein.
Then spake Glaumvor, and said —
" O Vingi, most like that great ill hap will come of
thy coming, and mighty and evil things shall betide in
thy travelling."
He answers, " Hearken to my answer ; that I lie
not aught : and may the high gallows and all things of
grame have me, if I lie one word ! "
Then cried Kostbera, " Fare ye well with merry
days."
And Hogni answered, " Be glad of heart, howsoever
it may fare with us !"
And therewith they parted, each to their own fate.
Then away they rowed, so hard and fast, that well-nigh the
half of the keel slipped away from the ship, and so hard
they laid on to the oars that thole and gunwale brake.
But when they came aland they made their ship fast,
and then they rode awhile on their noble steeds through
the murk wild-wood.
142 THE STORY OF THE
And now they behold the king's army, and huge
uproar, and the clatter of weapons they hear from thence ;
and they see there a mighty host of men, and the mani-
fold array of them, even as they -wTought there : and all
the gates of the burg were full of men.
So they rode up to the burg, and the gates thereof
were shut ; then Hogni brake open the gates, and there-
wth they ride into the burg.
Then spake Vingi, "Well might ye have left this
deed undone ; go to now, bide ye here while I go seek
your gallows-tree ! Softly and sweetly I bade you hither,
but an evil thing abode thereunder ; short while to bide
ere ye are tied up to that same tree !"
Hogni answered, " None the more shall we waver
for that cause ; for little methinks have we shrunk aback
whenas men fell to fight ; and naught shall it avail thee
to make us afeard, — and for an ill fate hast thou wrought."
And therewith they cast him down to earth, and
smote him with their axe-hammers till he died.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 143
CHAP. XXXVII.
The Battle in the Burg of King Atli.
THEN they rode unto the king's hall, and King Atli
arrayed his host for battle, and the ranks were
so set forth that a certain wall there was betwixt them
and the brethren.
" Welcome hither," said he. " Deliver unto me that
plenteous gold which is mine of right ; even the wealth
which Sigurd once owned and which is now Gudnin's of
right."
Gunnar answered, " Never gettest thou that wealth \
and men of might must thou meet here, or ever we lay
by life if thou wilt deal with us in battle : ah, belike thou
settest forth this feast like a great man, and wouldst not
hold thine hand from erne and wolf !"
" Long ago I had it in my mind," said Atli, " to take
the lives of you, and be lord of the gold, and reward you
for that deed of shame, wherein ye beguiled the best of
all your affinity ; but now shall I revenge him."
Hogni answered, " Little will it avail to lie long
brooding over that rede, leaving the work undone."
And therewith they fell to hard fighting, at the first
brunt with shot.
But therewithal came the tidings to Gudrun, and
when she heard thereof she grew exceeding wroth, and
144 THE STORY OF THE
cast her mantle from her, and ran out and greeted those
new-comers, and kissed her brethren, and showed them
all love, — and the last of all greetings was that betwixt
them.
Then said she, " I thought I had set forth counsels
whereby ye should not come hither, but none may deal
with his shapen fate." And withal she said, " Will it
avail aught to seek for peace ?"
But stoutly and grimly they said nay thereto. So
she sees that the game goeth sorely against her brethren,
and she gathers to her great stoutness of heart, and does
on her a mail-coat and takes to her a sword, and fights
by her brethren, and goes as far forward as the bravest
of man-folk : and all spake in one wise that never saw
any fairer defence than in her.
Now the men fell thick, and far before all others
was the fighting of those brethren, and the battle endured
a long while unto midday ; Gunnar and Hogni went
right through the folk of Atli, and so tells the tale that
all the mead ran red with blood ; the sons of Hogni
withal set on stoutly.
Then spake Atli the king, " A fair host and a great
have we, and mighty champions withal, and yet have
many of us fallen, and but evil am I apaid in that
nineteen of my champions are slain, and but six left
alive."
And thercAnthal was there a lull in the battle.
Then spake Atli the king, " Four brethren were we,
and now am I left alone ; great affinity I gat to me,
and deemed my fortune well sped thereby ; a wife I had,
fair and wise, high of mind, and great of heart ; but no
joyance may I have of her wisdom, for little peace is
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 145
betwixt us, but ye — ye have slain many of my kin, and
beguiled me of realm and riches, and for the greatest of
all woes have slain my sister withal."
Quoth Hogni, " Why babblest thou thus ? thou wert
the first to break the peace. Thou didst take my kins-
woman and pine her to death by hunger, and didst
murder her, and take her wealth ; an ugly deed for a
king ! — meet for mocking and laughter I deem it, that
thou must needs make long tale of thy woes ; rather will
I give thanks to the Gods that thou fallest into ill."
46 2 HE STORY OF THE
CHAP. XXXVIII.
Of the Slaying of the Giukings.
NOW King Atll eggs on his folk to set on fiercely,
and eagerly they fight, but the Giukings fell on
so hard that King Atli gave back into the hall, and
within doors was the fight, and fierce beyond all fights.
That battle was the death of many a man, but such
was the ending thereof, that there fell all the folk of
those brethren, and they twain alone stood up on their
feet, and yet many more must fare to hell first before
their weapons.
And now they fell on Gunnar the king, and because
of the host of men that set on him was hand laid on
him, and he was cast into fetters ; afterwards fought
Hogni, with the stoutest heart and the greatest manli-
hood ; and he felled to earth twenty of the stoutest of
the champions of King Atli, and many he thrust into
the fire that burnt amidst the hall, and all were of
one accord that such a man might scarce be seen ; yet in
the end was he borne down by many and taken.
Then said King Atli, " A marvellous thing how many
men have gone their ways before him ! Cut the heart
from out of him, and let that be his bane !"
Hogni said, " Do according to thy will ; merrily will
I abide whatso thou wilt do against me ; and thou shalt
VOLSUNGS AND NIBLUNGS. 147
see that my heart is not adrad, for hard matters have I
made trial of ere now, and all things that may try a man
was I fain to bear, whiles yet I was unhurt ; but now
sorely am I hurt, and thou alone henceforth wilt bear
mastery in our dealings together."
Then spake a counsellor of King Atli, " Better rede
I see thereto ; take we the thrall Hjalli, and give respite
to Hogni ; for this thrall is made to die, since the
longer he lives the less worth shall he be."
The thrall hearkened, and cried out aloft, and fled
away anywhither where he might hope for shelter,
crying out that a hard portion was his because of their
strife and wild doings, and an ill day for him whereon
he must be dragged to death from his sweet life and his
swine-keeping. But they caught him, and turned a
knife against him, and he yelled and screamed or ever
he felt the point thereof.
Then in such wise spake Hogni as a man seldom
speaketh who is fallen into hard need, for he prayed for
the thrall's life, and said that these shrieks he could not
away with, and that it were a lesser matter to him to
play out the play to the end ; and therewithal the thrall
gat his life as for that time : but Gunnar and Hogni are
both laid in fetters.
Then spake King Atli with Gunnar the king, and
bade him tell out concerning the gold, and where it was, if
he would have his life.
But he answered, " Nay, first will I behold the bloody
heart of Hogni, my brother."
So now they caught hold of the thrall again, and cut
the heart from out of him, and bore it unto King Gun-
nar, but he said —
148 THE STORY OF THE
" The faint heart of Hjalli may ye here behold, Httle
like the proud heart of Hogni, for as much as it trem-
bleth now, more by the half it trembled whenas it lay in
the breast of him."
So now they fell on Hogni even as Atli urged them,
and cut the heart from out of him, but such was the
might of his manhood, that he laughed while he abode
that torment, and all wondered at his worth, and in per-
petual memory is it held sithence.
Then they showed it to Gunnar, and he said —
" The mighty heart of Hogni, little like the faint
heart of Hjalli, for little as it trembleth now, less it
trembled whenas in his breast it lay ! But now, O Atli,
even as we die so shalt thou die ; and lo, I alone wot
where the gold is, nor shall Hogni be to tell thereof
now ; to and fro played the matter in my mind whiles
we both lived, but now have I myself determined for
myself, and the Rhine river shall rule over the gold,
rather than that the Huns shall bear it on the hands of
them."
Then said King Atli, " Have away the bondsman; "
and so they did.
But Gudrun called to her men, and came to Atli,
and said —
" May it fare ill with thee now and from henceforth,
even as thou hast ill held to thy word with me ! "
So Gunnar was cast into a worm-close, and many
worms abode him there, and his hands were fast bound;
but Gudrun sent him a harp, and in such wise did he
set forth his craft, that wisely he smote the harp, smiting
it with his toes, and so excellently well he played, that
few deemed they had heard such playing, even when the
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 149
hand had done it. And with such might and power he
played, that all the worms fell asleep in the end, save
one adder only, great and evil of aspect, that crept unto
him and thrust its sting into him until it smote his heart \
and in such wise with great hardihood he ended his life
days.
THE STOR Y OF THE
CHAP. XXXIX.
The End of Atli and his Kin and Folk.
NOW thought Atli the King that he had gained a
mighty victory, and spake to Gudrun even as
mocking her greatly, or as making himself great before
her. " Gudnm," saith he, " thus hast thou lost thy
brethren, and thy very self hast brought it about."
She answers, " In good liking livest thou, whereas
thou thrustest these slayings before me, but mayhappen
thou wilt rue it, Avhen thou hast tried what is to come
hereafter ; and of all I have, the longest-lived matter
shall be the memory of thy cruel heart, nor shall it go
well with thee whiles I live."
He answered and said, " Let there be peace bet-snxt
us ; I will atone for thy brethren with gold and dear-
bought things, even as thy heart may wish."
She answers, " Hard for a long while- have I been in
our dealings together, and now I say, that while Hogni
was yet alive thou mightest have brought it to pass ; but
now mayest thou never atone for my brethren in my
heart ; yet oft must we v/omen be overborne by the
might of you men ; and now are all my kindred dead
and gone, and thou alone art left to rule over me : where-
fore now this is my counsel that we make a great feast.
POLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 151
wherein I will hold the funeral of my brother and of
thy kindred withal."
In such wise did she make herself soft and kind
in words, though far other things forsooth lay there-
under, but he hearkened to her gladly, and trusted in
her words, whereas she made herself sweet of speech.
So Gudrun held the funeral feast for her brethren,
and King Atli for his men, and exceeding proud and
great was this feast.
But Gudrun forgat not her woe, but brooded over it,
how she might work some mighty shame against the
King ; and at nightfall she took to her the sons of King
Atli and her as they played about the floor ; the young-
lings waxed heavy of cheer, and asked what she would
with them.
" Ask me not," she said ; " ye shall die, the twain of
you !"
Then they answered, "Thou mayest do with thy
children even as thou wilt, nor shall any hinder thee, but
shame there is to thee in the doing of this deed."
Yet for all that she cut the throats of them.
Then the king asked where his sons were, and
Gudrun answered, " I will tell thee, and gladden thine
heart by the telling ; lo now, thou didst make a great
woe spring up for me in the slaying of my brethren ;
now hearken and hear my rede and my deed ; thou
hast lost thy sons, and their heads are become beakers
on the board here, and thou thyself hast drunken the
blood of them blended with wine j and their hearts I
took and roasted them on a spit, and thou hast eaten
thereof."
King Atli answered, " Grim art thou in that thou
152 THE STORY OF THE
hast murdered thy sons, and given me their flesh to eat,
and httle space passes betwixt ill deed of thine and ill
deed."
Gudrun said, " My heart is set on the doing to thee
of as great shame as may be ; never shall the measure ot
ill be full to such a king as thou art."
The king said, " Worser deeds hast thou done than
men have to tell of, and great unwisdom is there in such
fearful redes ; most meet art thou to be burned on bale
when thou hast first been smitten to death with stones,
for in such wise wouldst thou have what thou hast gone a
weary way to seek."
She answered, " Thine own death thou foretellest,
but another death is fated for me."
And many other words they spake in their wrath.
Now Hogni had a son left alive, hight Niblung, and
great wrath of heart he bare against King Atli ; and he
did Gudrun to wit that he would avenge his father.
And she took his words well, and they fell to counsel
together thereover, and she said it would be great good-
hap if it might be brought about.
.So on a night, when the king had drunken, he gat
him to bed, and when he was laid asleep, thither to him
came Gudrun and the son of Hogni.
Gudrun took a sword and thrust it through the breast
of King AtH, and they both of them set their hands to
the deed, both she and the son of Hogni.
Then Atli the king awoke with the wound, and cried
out, " No need of binding or salving here ! — who art
thou who hast done the deed?"
Gudrun says, " Somewhat have I, Gudrun, wrought
therein, and somewhat withal the son of Hogni."
VOLS UNGS AND NIBL UNGS. 1 5 3
Atli said, " 111 it beseemed to thee to do this, though
somewhat of wrong was between us ; for thou wert
wedded to me by the rede of thy kin, and dower paid
I for thee ; yea, thirty goodly knights, and seemly
maidens, and many men besides ; and yet wert thou not
content, but if thou shouldest rule over the lands King
Budli owned : and thy mother-in-law full oft thou lettest
sit a-weeping."
Gudrun said, " Many false words hast thou spoken,
and of naught I account them ; oft, indeed, was I fell of
mood, but much didst thou add thereto. Full oft in
this thy house did frays befall, and kin fought kin, and
friend fought friend, and made themselves big one
against the other; better days had I whenas I abode
with Sigurd, when we slew kings, and took their wealth
to us, but gave peace to whomso would, and the great
men laid themselves under our hands, and might we
gave to him of them who would have it ; then I lost
him, and a little thing was it that I should bear a
widow's name, but the greatest of griefs that I should
come to thee — I who had aforetime the noblest of all
kings, while for thee, thou never barest out of the battle
aught but the worser lot."
King Atli answered, " Naught true are thy words,
nor will this our speech better the lot of either of us,
for all is fallen now to naught; but now do to me in
seemly wise, and array my dead corpse in noble
fashion."
" Yea, that will I," she says, " and let make for thee
a goodly grave, and build for thee a worthy abiding
place of stone, and wrap thee in fair linen, and care for
all that needful is."
154
THE STORY OF THE
So therewithal he died, and she did according to
her word : and then they cast fire into the hall.
And when the folk and men of estate awoke amid
that dread and trouble, naught would they abide the
fire, but smote each the other down and died in such
wise ; so there Atli the king, and all his folk, ended
their life-days. But Gudrun had no will to live longer
after this deed so wrought, but nevertheless her ending
day was not yet come upon her.
Now the Volsungs and the Giukings, as folk tell in
tale, have been the greatest-hearted and the mightiest
of all men, as ye may well behold written in tlie songs of
old time.
But now with the tidings just told were these troubles
stayed.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 155
CHAP. XL.
Hoto Gudnin cast herself into the Sea, but 7vas brought
ashore again.
GUDRUN had a daughter by Sigurd hight Swan-
hild; she was the fairest of all women, eager-
eyed as her father, so that few durst look under the
brows of her ; and as far did she excel other woman-kind
as the sun excels the other lights of heaven.
But on a day went Gudrun down to tlie sea, and
caught up stones in her arms, and went out into the
sea, for she had will to end her life. But mighty billows
drave her forth along the sea, and by means of their
upholding was she borne along till she came at the last
to the burg of King Jonakr, a mighty king, and lord of
many folk. And he took Gudrun to wife, and their
children were Hamdir, and Sorli and Erp ; and there
was Swanhild nourished withal.
56 THE STORY OF 7 HE
CHAP. XLI.
Of the Wedding and Slaying of Sivanhild.
JORMUNREK was the name of a mighty king of
those days, and his son was called Randver. Now
this king called his son to talk with him, and said,
" Thou shalt fare on an errand of mine to King Jonakr,
with my counsellor Bikki, for with King Jonakr is
nourished Swanhild, the daughter of Sigurd Fafnir's-bane;
and I know for sure that she is the fairest may dwelling
under the sun of this world ; her above all others would
I have to my wife, and thou shalt go woo her for me."
Randver answered, " Meet and right, fair lord, that
I should go on thine errands."
So the king set forth this journey in seemly wise,
and they fare till they come to King Jonakr's abode,
and behold Swanhild, and have many thoughts con-
cerning the treasure of her goodliness.
But on a day Randver called the king to talk with
him, and said, " Jormunrek the King would fain be thy
brother-in-law, for he has heard tell of Swanhild, and his
desire it is to have her to wife, nor may it be shown that
she may be given to any mightier man than he is one."
The King says, " This is an alliance of great honour
for a man of fame he is."
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 157
Gudrun says, " A wavering trust, the trust in luck
that it change not!"
Yet because of the king's furthering, and all the
matters that went herewith, is the wooing accomplished ;
and Swanhild went to the ship with a goodly company,
and sat in the stern beside the king's son.
Then spake Bikki to Randver, " How good and
right it were if thou thyself had to wife so lovely a
woman rather than the old man there."
Good seemed that word to the heart of the king's
son, and he spake to her with sweet words, and she to
him in like wise.
So they came aland and go unto the king, and
Bikki said unto him, " Meet and right it is, lord, that
thou shouldst know what is befallen, though hard it be
to tell of, for the tale must be concerning thy beguiling,
whereas thy son has gotten to him the full love of Swan-
hild, nor is she other than his harlot ; but thou, let not
the deed be unavenged."
Now many an ill rede had he given the king or this,
but of all his ill redes did this sting home the most ; and
still would the king hearken to all his evil redes ; where-
fore he, who might nowise still the wrath within him,
cried out that Randver should be taken and tied up to
the gallows-tree.
And as he was led to the gallows he took his hawk
and plucked the feathers from off it, and bade show it
to his father ; and when the king saw it, then he said,
" Now may folk behold that he deemeth my honour
to be gone away from me, even as the feathers of this
hawk ;" and therewith he bade deliver him from the
gallows.
158 THE STORY OF THE
But in that while had Bikki wrought his will, and
Randver was dead-slain.
And, moreover, Bikki spake, " Against none hast
thou more wTongs to avenge thee of, than against Swan-
hild ; let her die a shameful death."
" Yea," said the king, " we will do after thy counsel."
So she was bound in the gate of the burg, and
horses were driven at her to tread her down ; but when
she opened her eyes wide, then the horses durst not
trample her ; so when Bikki beheld that, he bade draw
a bag over the head of her ; and they did so, and there-
after she lost her life.
VOLS UNGS AND NIBL UNGS. 1 5 9
CHAP. XLII.
Gudrun sends her Sons to avenge Swanhild.
NOW Gudrun heard of the slaying of Swanhild, and
spake to her sons, " Why sit ye here in peace
amid merry words, whereas Jormunrek hath slain your
sister, and trodden her under foot of horses in shameful
wise ? No heart ye have in you like to Gunnar or
Hogni ; verily they would have avenged their kins-
woman?"
Hamdir answered, " Little didst thou praise Gunnar
and Hogni, whereas they slew Sigurd, and thou wert
reddened in the blood of him, and ill were thy brethren
avenged by the slaying of thine own sons : yet not so
ill a deed were it for us to slay King Jormunrek, and
so hard thou pushest us on to this that we may naught
abide thy hard words."
Gudrun went about laughing now, and gave them to
drink from mighty beakers, and thereafter she got for
them great byrnies and good, and all other weed of
war.
Then spake Hamdir, " Lo now, this is our last
parting, for thou shalt hear tidings of us, and drink one
grave-ale over us and over Swanhild."
So therewith they went their ways.
i6o THE STORY OF THE
But Gudrun went unto her bower, with heart swollen
with sorrow, and spake,
" To three men was I wedded, and first to Sigurd
Fafnir's-bane, and he was bewrayed and slain, and of
all griefs was that the greatest grief Then was I given
to King Atli, and so fell was my heart toward him
that I slew in the fury of my grief his children and
mine. Then gave I myself to the sea, but the billows
thereof cast me out aland, and to this king then was I
given ; then gave I Swanhild away out of the land with
mighty wealth ; and lo my next greatest sorrow after
Sigurd, for under horses' feet was she trodden and slain ;
but the grimmest and ugliest of woes was the casting
of Gunnar into the Worm-close, and the hardest was
the cutting of Hogni's heart from him.
" Ah, better would it be if Sigurd came to meet me,
and I went my ways with him, for here bideth now
behind with me neither son nor daughter to comfort
me. Oh, mindest thou not, Sigurd, the words we spoke
when we went into one bed together, that thou wouldst
come and look on me ; yea, even from thine abiding-
place among the dead."
And thus had the words of her sorrow an end.
VOLS UNGS AND NIBL UNGS. 1 6 1
CHAP. XLIII.
TJie Latter End of all the Kin of the Giiikings.
NOW telleth the tale concerning the sons of Gudnin,
that she had arrayed their war-raiment in such
wise, that no steel would bite thereon ; and she bade
them play not with stones or other heavy matters, for
that it would be to their scathe if they did so.
And now, as they went on their way, they met
Erp, their brother, and asked him in what wise he
would help them.
He answered, " Even as hand helps, hand or foot
helps foot."
But that they deemed naught at all, and slew him
there and then. Then they went their ways, nor was it
long or ever Hamdir stumbled, and thrust down his
hand to steady himself, and spake therewith —
" Naught but a true thing spake Erp, for now should
I have fallen, had not hand been to steady me."
A little after Sorli stumbled, but turned about on his
feet, and so stood, and spake —
" Yea now had I fallen, but that I steadied myself
with both feet."
M
i62 THE STORY OF THE
And they said they had done evilly with Erp their
brother.
But on they fare till they come to the abode of King
Jormunrek, and they went up to him and set on him
forthwith, and Hamdir cut both hands from him and
Sorli both feet. Then spake Hamdir —
" Off were the head if Erp were alive ; our brother,
whom we slew on the way, and found out our deed too
late." Even as the Song says, —
Off were the head
If Erp were alive yet,
Our brother the bold.
Whom we slew by the way,
The well-famed in warfare.
Now in this must they turn away from the words of
their mother, whereas they had to deal with stones. For
now men fell on them, and they defended themselves in
good and manly wise, and were the scathe of many a
man, nor would iron bite on them.
But there came thereto a certain man, old of aspect
and one-eyed, and he spake —
" No wise men are ye, whereas ye cannot bring these
men to their end."
Then the king said, " Give us rede thereto, if thou
canst."
He said, " Smite them to the death with stones."
In such wise was it done, for the stones flew thick
and fast from every side, and that was the end of their
life-days.
VOLSUNGS AND NIB LUNGS. 163
And now has come to an end the whole root and
stem of the Giukings.
Now MAY ALL EARLS
Be bettered in mind,
May the grief of all maidens
Ever be minished,
For this tale of trouble
so told to its ending.
CERTAIN SONGS
THE ELDER EDDA,
WHICH DEAL WITH THE STORY OF THE VOLSUNGS.
PART OF THE SECOND LAY OF
HELGI HUNDING'S-BANE/^
HELGI wedded Sigrun, and they begat sons to-
gether, but Helgi hved not to be old ; for Dag,t
the son of Hogni, sacrificed to Odin, praying that he
might avenge his father. So Odin lent Dag his spear,
and Dag met Helgi, his brother-in-law, at a place called
Fetter-grove, and thrust him through with that spear, and
there fell Helgi dead ; but Dag rode to Sevafell, and
told Sigrun of the news.
Loth am I, sister,
Of sorrow to tell thee,
For by hard need driven
Have I drawn on thee greeting ;
This morning fell
In Fetter-grove
The king well deemed
The best in the wide world,
Yea, he who stood
On the necks of the strong.
* Only that part of the song
is given which completes the
episode of Helgi Hunding's-
bane ; the earlier part of the
song differs little from the Saga.
t Hogni, the father of Dag
and Sigrun. had been slain by
Helgi in battle, and Helgi had
given peace to, and taken oaths
of Dag.
1 68 SOA^'GS FROM THE ED DA.
Sigrwu
All oaths once sworn
Shall bite thee sore,
The oaths that to Helgi
Once thou swarest
At the bright white
Water of Lightening,*
And at the cold rock
That the sea runneth over.
May the ship sweep not on
That should sweep at its swiftest,
Though the wind desired
Behind thee driveth !
May the horse never run
That should run at his most might
When from thy foe's face
Thou hast most need to flee !
May the sword never bite
That thou drawest from scabbard.
But and if round thine head
In wrath it singeth !
Then should meet price be paid
For Helgi's slaying
When a Avolf thou wert
Out in the A\-ild-wood,
• One of the rivers of the under-world.
THE LA V OF HELGI. 169
Empty of good things,
Empty of gladness,
With no meat for thy mouth
But dead men's corpses !
Dag.
With mad words thou ravest
Thy wits are gone from thee
When thou for thy brother
Such ill fate biddest ;
Odin alone
Let all this bale loose,
Casting the strife-runes
'Twixt friends and kindred.
Rings of red gold
Will thy brother give thee,
And the stead of Vandil
And the lands of Vigdale ;
Have half of the land
For thy sorrow's healing,
O ring-arrayed sweetling
For thee and thy sons !
Sigrnri.
No more sit I happy
At Sevafell \
At day-dawn, at night
Naught love I my life
Till broad o'er the people
I70 SONGS FROM THE EBB A.
My lord's light breaketh ;
Till his war-horse runneth
Beneath him hither,
Well wont to the gold bit —
Till my king I welcome.
In such wise did Helgi
Deal fear around
To all his foes
And all their friends
As when the goat runneth
Before the wolfs rage
Filled with mad fear
Down from the fell.
As high above all lords
Did Helgi bear him
As the ash-tree's glory
From the thorn ariseth,
Or as the fawn
With the dew-fall sprinkled
Is far above
All other wild things,
As his horns go gleaming
'Gainst the very heavens.
A barrow was raised above Helgi, but when he
came to Valhall, then Odin bade him be lord of all
things there, even as he; so Helgi sang —
Now shalt thou, Hunding,
For the help of each man
THE LA Y OF HELGI. 1 7 1
Get ready the foot-bath,
And kindle the fire ;
The hounds shalt thou bind
And give heed to the horses,
Give wash to the swine
Ere to sleep thou goest.
A bondmaid of Sigrun went in the evening-tide by
Helgi's mound, and there she saw how Helgi rode
toward it with a great company ; then she sang —
It is vain things' beguiling
That methinks I behold,
Or the ending of all things,
As ye ride, O ye dead men.
Smiting with spurs
Your horses' sides ?
Or may dead warriors
Wend their ways homeward ?
T7ie Dead.
No vain things' beguiling
Is that thou beholdest.
Nor the ruin of all things ;
Though thou lookest upon us,
Though we smite with spurs
Our horses' sides ;
Rather dead warriors
May wend their ways homeward.
172 SONGS FROM THE ED DA.
Then went the bondmaid home, and told Sigrun,
and sang —
Go out, Sigrun
From Sevafell,
If thou listest to look on
The lord of thy people !
For the mound is uncovered
Thither is Helgi come,
And his wounds are bleeding,
But the king thee biddeth
To come and stay-
That stream of sorrow.
So Sigrun went into the mound to Helgi, and
sang—
Now am I as fain
Of this fair meeting.
As are the hungry
Hawks of Odin,
When they wot of the slaying
Of the yet warm quarry,
Or bright with dew
See the day a-dawning.
Ah, I will kiss
My king laid lifeless,
Ere thou castest by
Thy blood-stained byrny.
THE LA V OF HEL GI. 173
O Helgi, thy hair
Is thick with death's rime,
With the dew of the dead
Is my love all dripping ;
Dead-cold are the hands
Of the son of Hogni !
How for thee, O my king,
May I win healing?
Helgi.
Thou alone, Sigrun
Of Sevafell,
Hast so done that Helgi
With griefs dew drippeth ;
O clad in gold
Cruel tears thou weepest,
Bright May of the Southlands,
Or ever thou sleepest :
Each tear in blood falleth
On the breast of thy lord,
Cold-wet and bitter sharp
Swollen with sorrow.
Ah, we shall drink
Dear draughts and lovely,
Though we have lost
Both life and lands ;
Neither shall any
Sing song of sorrow,
Though in my breast
Be wounds wide to behold :
174 SOJVGS FROM THE EDDA.
For now are brides
In the mound abiding ;
Kings' daughters sit
By us departed.
Now Sigrun arrayed a bed in the mound, and sang
Here, Helgi, for thee
A bed have I dight,
Kind without woe,
O kin of the Ylfings !
To thy bosom, O king,
Will I come and sleep soft,
As I was wont
When my lord was living.
Helgi.
Now will I call
Naught not to be hoped for
Early or late
At Sevafell,
When thou in the arms
Of a dead man art laid,
WTiite maiden of Hogni,
Here in the mound :
And thou yet quick,
O King's daughter !
Now needs must I ride
On the reddening waj'S ;
THE LA V OF HELGI. 175
My pale horse must tread
The highway aloft :
West must I go
To Windhelm's bridge
Ere the warwinning crowd
*Hall-crower waketh.
So Helgi rode his ways : and the others gat them
gone home to the house. But the next night Sigrun
bade the bondwoman have heed of the mound. So at
nightfall, whenas Sigrun came to the mound, she sang :
Here now would be come,
If to come he were minded ;
Sigmund's offspring
From the halls of Odin.
O me the hope waneth
Of Helgi's coming ;
For high on the ash-boughs
Are the ernes abiding,
And all folk drift
Toward the Thing of the dreamland.
TJie Bondmaid.
Be not foolish of heart.
And fare all alone
To the house of the dead,
O Heroe's daughter !
* Hall-crower, ' Salgofnir :' lit. Hall-gaper, the cock ofValhall.
1 76 SOJVGS FROM THE ED DA.
For more strong and dreadful
In the night season
Are all dead warriors
Than in the daylight.
But a little while lived Sigrun, because of her sorrow
and trouble. But in old time folk trowed that men
should be bom again, though their troth be now deemed
but an old wife's doting. And so, as folk say, Helgi
and Sigrun were born again, and at that tide was he
called Helgi the Scathe of Hadding, and she Kara the
daughter of Halfdan ; and she was a Valkyria, even as
is said in the Lay of Kara.
177
PART OF THE LAY OF SIGRDRIFA.'-
Now this is my first counsel,
That thou with thy kin
Be guiltless, guileless ever,
Nor hasty of wrath,
Despite of wrong done —
Unto the dead good that doeth.
Lo the second counsel.
That oath thou swearest never,
But trusty oath and true :
Grim tonnenting
Gripes troth-breakers ;
Cursed wretch is the wolf of vows.
This is my third rede,
That thou at the Thing
Deal not with the fools of folk ;
For unwise man
From mouth lets fall
Worser word than well he wotteth.
* This continues the first part of the lay given in Chap, xx of the
ga ; and is, in fact, the original verse of Chap. xxi.
N
178 SOJ^GS FROM THE EDDA.
Yet hard it is
That holding of peace
When men shall deem thee dastard,
Or deem the lie said soothly \
But woeful is home-witness,
Unless right good thou gettest it.
Ah, on another day
Drive the life from out him,
And pay the liar back for his lying.
Now behold the fourth rede :
If ill witch thee bideth,
Woe-begetting by the way,
Good going further
Rather than guesting,
Though thick night be on thee.
Far-seeing eyes
Need all sons of men
Who wend in wrath to war ;
For baleful women
Bide oft by the highway.
Swords and hearts to soften.
And now the fifth rede :
As fair as thou seest
Brides on the bench abiding,
Let not love's silver
Rule over thy sleeping ;
Draw no woman to kind kissing !
THE LA Y OF SIGRDRIFA. 179
For the sixth thing, I rede
When men sit a-drinking
Amid ale-words and ill words,
Deal thou naught
With the drunken fight-staves,
For wine stealeth wit from many.
Brawling and drink
Have brought unto men
Sorrow sore oft enow ;
Yea, bane unto some.
And to some weary bale ;
Many are the griefs of mankind.
For the seventh, I rede thee.
If strife thou raisest
With a man right high of heart.
Better fight a-field
Than burn in the fire
Within thine hall fair to behold.
The eighth rede that I give thee :
Unto all ill look thou.
And hold thine heart from all beguiling :
Draw to thee no maiden.
No man's wife bewray thou,
Urge them not unto unmeet pleasure.
This is the ninth counsel :
That thou have heed of dead folk
[8o SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
Whereso thou findest them a-field ;
Be they sick-dead,
Be they sea-dead,
Or come to ending by war-weapons.
Let bath be made
For such men foredone,
Wash thou hands and feet thereof.
Comb their hair and dry them
Ere the coffin has them ;
Then bid them sleep full sweetly.
This for the tenth counsel :
That thou give trust never
Unto oaths of foeman's kin,
Be'st thou bane of his brother.
Or hast thou felled his father ;
Wolf in young son waxes,
Though he with gold be gladdened.
For Avrong and hatred
Shall rest them never.
Nay, nor sore sorrow.
Both \A\. and weapons
Well must the king have
Who is fain to be the foremost.
The last rede and eleventh
Unto all ill look thou,
THE LA V OF SIGRDRIFA.
And watch thy friends' ways ever.
Scarce durst J look
For long life for thee, king :
Strong trouble ariseth now already.
l82
THE LAY CALLED THE SHORT
LAY OF SIGURD.
Sigurd of yore,
Sought the dwelling of Giuki,
As he fared, the young Volsung,
After fight won;
Troth he took
From the two brethren ;
Oath swore they betwixt them,
Those bold ones of deed.
A may they gave to him
And wealth manifold,
Gudrun the young,
Giuki's daughter :
They drank and gave doom
Many days together,
Sigurd the young,
And the sons of Giuki.
Until they wended
For Br}Tihild's wooing,
Sigurd a-riding
Amidst their rout;
THE LA V OF SIG URD. 1 83
The wise young Volsung
Who knew of all ways —
Ah ! he had wed her,
Had fate so willed it.
Southlander Sigurd
A naked sword,
Bright, well grinded,
Laid betwixt them;
No kiss he won
From the fair woman,
Nor in arms of his
Did the Hun King hold her,
Since he gat the young maid
For the son of GiukL
No lack in her life
She wotted of now.
And at her death-day
No dreadful thing
For a shame indeed
Or a shame in seeming;
But about and betwixt
Went baleful fate.
Alone, abroad.
She sat of an evening.
Of full many things
She fella-talking:
r84 SOuVGS FROM THE RDDA.
" O for my Sigurd !
I shall have death,
Or my fair, my lovely,
Laid in mine arms.
" For the word once spoken,
I sorrow sorely —
His queen is Gudnin,
I am wed to Gunnar;
The dread Norns wrought for us
A long while of woe."
Oft with heart deep
In dreadful thoughts,
O'er ice-fields and ice-hills
She fared a-night time.
When he and Gudrun
Were gone to their fair bed,
And Sigurd wrapped
The bed-gear round her.
" Ah ! now the Hun King
His queen in arms holdeth,
While love I go lacking,
And all things longed for
With no delight
But in dreadful thought."
These dreadful things
Thrust her toward murder :
THE LA V OF SIG URD. 185
— "Listen, Gunnar,
For thou shalt lose
My wide lands,
Yea, me myself !
— Never love I my life.
With thee for my lord —
" I will fare back thither
From whence I came,
To my nighest kin
And those that know me :
There shall I sit
Sleeping my life away,
Unless thou slayest
Sigurd the Hun King,
Making thy might more
E'en than his might was !
" Yea, let the son fare
After the father,
And no young wolf
A long while nourish !
For on each man lieth
Vengeance lighter,
And peace shall be surer
If the son live not."
Adrad was Gunnar,
Heavy-hearted was he,
And in doubtful mood
Day-long he sat.
i86 SOxVGS FROM THE EDDA.
For naught he wotted,
Nor might see clearly
\\Tiat was the seemliest
Of deeds to set hand to ;
What of all deeds
Was best to be done :
For he minded the vows
Sworn to the Volsung,
And the sore wTong
To be A\TOught against Sigurd.
Wavered his mind
A weary while,
No wont it was
Of those days worn by.
That queens should flee
From the realms of their kings.
" BrjTxhild to me
Is better than all.
The child of Budli
Is the best of women.
Yea, and my life
Will I lay down.
Ere I am twinned
From that woman's treasure."
He bade call Hogni
To the place where he bided :
With all the trust that might be,
Trowed he in him.
THE LA V OF SIG URD. 187
" Wilt thou bewray Sigurd
For his wealth's sake ?
Good it is to rule
O'er the Rhine's metal ;
And well content
Great wealth to wield,
Biding in peace
And blissful days."
One thing alone Hogni
Had for an answer;
" Such doings for us
Are naught seemly to do;
To rend with sword
Oaths once sworn,
Oaths once sworn.
And troth once plighted.
" Nor know we on mould,
Men of happier days.
The while we four
Rule over the folk ;
While the bold in battle,
The Hun King, bides living.
" And no nobler kin
Shall be known afield,
If our five sons
We long may foster;
Yea, a goodly stem
Shall surely wax.
SOA^GS FROM THE EDDA.
— But I clearly see
In what wise it standeth,
Brynhild's sore urging
O'ennuch on thee beareth."
" Guttorm shall we
Get for the slaying,
Our younger brother
Bare of wisdom \
For he was out of
All the oaths sworn,
All the oaths sworn,
And the plighted troth."
Easy to rouse him
Who of naught recketh !
— Deep stood the sword
In the heart of Sigurd.
There, in the hall.
Gat the high-hearted vengeance :
For he cast his sword
At the reckless slayer :
Out at Guttorm
Flew Gram the mighty,
The gleaming steel
From Sigurd's hand.
Down fell the slayer
Smitten asunder;
The heavy head
THE LAY OF SIGURD.
And the hands fell one way,
But the feet and such like
Aback where they stood.
Gudrun was sleeping
Soft in the bed,
Empty of sorrow
By the side of Sigurd :
When she awoke
With all pleasure gone.
Swimming in blood
Of Frey's beloved.
So sore her hands
She smote together,
That the great-hearted
Gat raised in bed ;
— " O Gudrun, weep not
So woefully,
Sweet lovely bride,
For thy brethren live for thee !
" A young child have I
For heritor ;
Too young to win forth
From the house of his foes. —
Black deeds and ill
Have they been a-doing.
Evil rede
Have they wrought at last.
I90 SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
" Late, late, rideth with them
Unto the Thing,
Such sister^s son,
Though seven thou bear, —
— But well I wot
Which way all goeth ;
Alone wrought Brynhild
This bale against us.
" That maiden loved me
Far before all men.
Yet wrong to Gunnar
I never \vrought ;
Brotherhood I heeded
And all bounden oaths,
That none should deem me
His queen's darling."
Weary sighed Gudrun,
As the king gat ending,
And so sore her hands
She smote together,
That the cups arow
Rang out therewith.
And the geese cried on high
That were in the homefield.
Then laughed Brynhild,
Budli's daughter.
Once, once only,
From out her heart :
THE LA V OF SIG URD. 1 9 1
When to her bed
Was borne the sound
Of the sore greeting
Of Giuki's daughter.
Then, quoth Gunnar,
The king, the hawkbearer,
" Whereas, thou laughest,
O hateful woman.
Glad on thy bed,
No good it betokeneth :
Why lackest thou else
Thy lovely hue ?
Feeder of foul deeds,
Fev do I deem thee,
" Well worthy art thou
Before all women,
That thine eyes should see
Atli slain of us ;
That thy brother's wounds
Thou shouldst see a-bleeding,
That his bloody hurts
Thine hands should bind."
" No man blameth thee, Gunnar, .
Thou hast fulfilled death's measure,
But naught Atli feareth
All thine ill will ;
Life shall he lay do\\Ti
192 SOA'GS FROM THE EDDA.
Later than ye,
And still bear more might
Aloft than thy might.
" I shall tell thee, Gunnar,
Though well the tale thou knowest
In what early days
Ye dealt abroad .your wTong :
Young was I then,
Worn with no woe,
Good wealth I had
In the house of my brother !
" No mind had I
That a man should have me.
Or ever ye Giukings,
Rode into our garth ;
There ye sat on your steeds
Three kings of the people —
— Ah ! that that faring
Had never befallen !
" Then spake Atli
To me apart.
And said that no wealth
He would give unto me.
Neither gold nor lands
If I would not be wedded ;
Nay, and no part
Of the wealth apportioned,
^Vhich in my first days
THE LA Y OF SIG URD. 1 93
He gave me duly ;
Which in my first days
He counted down.
" Wavered the mind
Within me then,
If to fight I should fall
And the feUing of folk,
Bold in byrny
Because of my brother ;
A deed of fame
Had that been to all folk,
But to many a man
Sorrow of mind.
" So I let all sink
Into peace at the last :
More grew I minded
For the mighty treasure,
The red-shining rings
Of Sigmund's son ;
For no man's wealth else
Would I take unto me.
" For myself had I given
To that great king
Who sat amid gold
On the back of Grani ;
Nought were his eyen
Like to your eyen,
Nor in any -wise
194 SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
Went his visage with yours ;
Though ye might deem you
Due kings of men.
" One I loved,
One, and none other.
The gold-decked may
Had no doubtfiA mind ;
Thereof shall Atli
Wot full surely,
When he getteth to know
I am gone to the dead.
" Far be it from me
Feeble and wavering,
Ever to love
Another's love —
— Yet shall my woe
Be well avenged."
Up rose Gunnar,
The great men's leader,
And cast his arms
About the queen's neck ;
And all went nigh
One after other,
AVith their whole hearts
Her heart to turn.
But then all these
From her neck she thrust,
THE LA Y OF SIGURD. 195
Of her long journey
No man should let her.
Then called he Hogni
To have talk with him \
" Let all folk go
Forth into the hall,
Thine with mine —
— O need sore and mighty !-
To wot if we yet
My wife's parting may stay.
Till with time's wearing
Some hindrance wax."
One answer Hogni
Had for all ;
" Nay, let hard need
Have rule thereover,
And no man let her
Of her long journey !
Never born again,
May she come back thence !
" Luckless she came
To the lap of her mother,
Born into the world
For utter woe,
To many a man
For heart-whole mourning."
[Qó SONGS FROM THE ED DA.
Unpraised he turned
From the talk and the trouble,
To where the gem-field
Dealt out goodly treasure ;
As she looked and beheld
All the wealth that she had,
And the hungry bondmaids,
And maids of the hall.
With no good in her heart
She donned her gold byrny.
Ere she trust the sword-point
Through the midst of her body :
On the bolster's far side
Sank she adown,
And, smitten with sword,
Still bethought her of redes.
" Let all come forth
Who are fain the red gold,
Or things less worthy
To win from my hands :
To each one I give
A necklace gilt over.
Wrought hangings and bed-gear.
And bright woven weed."
All they kept silence,
And thought what to speak,
Then all at once
Answer gave :
THE LA V OF SIGURD.
'■'■ Full enow are death-doomed.
Fain are we to live yet,
Maids of the hall
All meet work winning."
From her wise heart at last
The linen-clad damsel,
The one of few years
Gave forth the word :
" I will that none driven
By hand or by word,
For our sake should lose
Well-loved life.
" Though on the bones of you
Surely shall burn,
Less dear treasure
At your departing
Nor with Menia's Meal *
Shall ye come to see me.
"Sit thee down, Gunnar,
A word must I say to thee
Of the life's ruin
Of thy lightsome bride —
— Nor shall thy ship
Swim soft and sweetly
For all that I
Lay life adown.
'97
Menia's Meal,' periphrasis for gold.
SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
" Sooner than ye might deem
Shall ye make peace with Gudrun,
For the wase woman
Shall lull in the young Avife
The hard memory
Of her dead husband.
" There is a may born
Reared by her mother,
Whiter and brighter
Than is the bright day ;
She shall be Swanhild,
She shall be Sunbeam.
" Thou shalt give Gudrun
Unto a great one,
Noble, well praised
Of the world's folk ;
Not with her goodwill,
Or love shalt thou give her ;
Yet will Atli
Come to win her,
My ver}' brother
Born of Budli.
— " Ah ! many a memory
Of how ye dealt with me,
How sorely, how evilly
Ye ever beguiled me,
How all pleasure left me
The while my life lasted ! —
THE LA Y OF SIG URD. 1 99
" Fain wilt thou be
Oddrun to win,
But thy good liking
Shall Atli let ;
But in secret wise
Shall ye win together,
And she shall love thee
As I had loved thee.
If in such wise
Fate had willed it.
" But with all ill
Shall Atli sting thee
Into the strait womi-close
Shall he cast thee.
" But no long space
Shall slip away
Ere Atli too
All life shall lose.
Yea, all his weal
With the life of his sons,
For a dreadful bed
Dights Gudrun for him.
From a heart sore laden,
With the sword's sharp edge.
" More seemly for Gudrun
Your very sister,
In death to wend after
Her love first wed ;
SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
Had but good rede
To her been given,
Or if her heart
Had been Uke to my heart.
— " Faint my speech groweth —
But for our sake
Ne'er shall she lose
Her life beloved ;
The sea shall have her,
High billows bear her
Forth unto Jonakr's
Fair land of his fathers.
" There shall she bear sons,
Stays of a heritage.
Stays of a heritage,
Jonakr's sons ;
And Swanhild shall she
Send from the land,
That may bom of her,
The may born of Sigurd.
" Her shall bite
The rede of Bikki,
AVhereas for no good
Wins Jormunrek life ;
And so is clean perished
All the kin of Sigurd,
Yea, and more greeting,
And more for Gudrim.
THE LAY OF SIGURD.
" And now one prayer
Yet pray I of thee —
The last word of mine
Here in the world —
So broad on the field
Be the burg of the dead
That fair space may be left
For us all to lie down,
All those that died
At Sigurd's death !
" Hang round that burg
Fair hangings and shields,
Web by Gauls woven,
And folk of the Gauls :
There burn the Hun King
Lying beside me.
" But on the other side
Bum by the Hun King
Those who served me
Strewn with treasure ;
Two at the head,
And two at the feet,
Two hounds therewith,
And two hawks moreover :
Then is all dealt
With even deaHng.
" Lay there amidst us
The ring-dight metal,
SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
The sharp-edged steel,
That so lay erst ;
When we both together
Into one bed went,
And were called by the name
Of man and wife.
" Never, then belike
Shall clash behind him
Valhall's bright door
With rings bedight :
And if my fellowship
FoUoweth after,
In no wretched wise
Then shall we wend.
" For him shall follow
My five bondmaids,
My eight bondsmen.
No borel folk :
Yea, and my fosterer,
And my father's dower
That Budli of old days
Gave to his dear child.
" Much have I spoken.
More would I speak.
If the sword would give me
Space for speech ;
But my words are waning,
My wounds are swelling —
Naught but truth have I told—
— And now make I ending."
THE HELL-RIDE OF
BRYNHILD.
AF T E R the death of Brynhild were made two bales,
one for Sigurd, and that was first burned; but
Brynhild was burned on the other, and she was in a
chariot hung about with goodly hangings.
And so folk say that Brynhild drave in her chariot
down along the way to Hell, and passed by an abode
where dwelt a certain giantess, and the giantess spake : —
" Nay, with my goodwill
Never goest thou
Through this stone-pillared
Stead of mine !
More seemly for thee
To sit sewing the cloth,
Than to go look on
The love of another.
" What dost thou, going
From the land of the Gauls,
204 SOJVGS FROM THE EDDA.
O restless head,
To this mine house ?
Golden girl, hast thou not,
If thou listest to hearken,
In sweet wise from thy hands
The blood of men washen ? "
Brynhild.
" Nay, blame me naught.
Bride of the rock-hall.
Though I roved a warring
In the days that were ;
The higher of us twain
Shall I ever be holden
When of our kind
Men make account."
The Giaiit-woffian.
" Thou, O Brynhild,
Budli's daughter,
Wert the worst ever born
Into the world :
For Giuki's children
Death hast thou gotten,
And turned to destruction
Their goodly dwelling."
Brynhild.
" I shall tell thee
True tale from my chariot.
THE HELL-RIDE OF BR YNHILD. 205
O thou who naught wottest,
If thou Hstest to wot ;
How for me they have gotten
Those heirs of Giuki,
A loveless life,
A life of lies.
" Hild under helm,
The Hlymdale people,
E'en those who knew me.
Ever would call me.
" The changeful shapes
Of us eight sisters,
The wise king bade
Under oak-tree to bear :
Of twelve winters was I,
If thou listest to wot,
Wlien I sware to the young lord
Oaths of love.
" Thereafter gat I
Mid the folk of the Goths,
For Helmgunnar the old,
Swift journey to Hell,
And gave to Aud's brother
The young, gain and glory ;
Whereof overwrath
Waxed Odin with me.
" So he shut me in shield-wall
In Skata grove,
2o6 SOATGS FROM THE EDDA.
Red shields and white
Close set around me ;
And bade him alone
My slumber to break
Who in no land
Knew how to fear.
" He set round my hall,
Toward the south quarter,
The Bane of all trees
Burning aloft ;
And ruled that he only
Thereover should ride
Who should bring me the gold
O'er which Fafnir brooded.
" Then upon Grani rode
The goodly gold-strewer
To where my fosterer
Ruled his fair dwelling.
He who alone there
Was deemed best of all,
The War-lord of the Danes,
Well worthy of men.
" In peace did we sleep
Soft in one bed,
As though he had been
Naught but my brother :
There as we lay
Through eight nights wearing,
THE HELL-RIDE OF BRYNHILD. 207
No hand in love
On each other we laid.
" Yet thence blamed me Gudrun,
Giuki's daughter,
That I had slept
In the arms of Sigurd ;
And then I wotted
As I fain had not wotted,
That they had bewrayed me
In my betrothals.
" Ah ! for unrest
All too long
Are men and women
Made alive !
Yet we twain together
Shall wear through the ages,
Sigurd and I. —
— Sink adown, O giant-wife ! "
FRAGMENTS OF THE LAY OF
BRYNHILD.
Hogni said.
^^^'lat hath wrought Sigurd
Of any wrong-doing
That the hfe of the famed one
Thou art fain of taking ?
Gunnar said.
To me has Sigurd
Sworn many oaths,
Sworn many oaths,
And sworn them lying.
And he bewTayed me
A\Tien it behoved him
Of all folk to his troth
To be the most trusty.
THE LA V OF BR YNHILD.
Hogfii said.
Thee hath Brynhild
Unto all bale,
And all hate whetted,
And a work of sorrow ;
For she grudges to Gudrun
All goodly life ;
And to thee the bliss
Of her very body.
Some the wolf roasted,
Some minced the worm,
Some unto Guttorm
Gave the wolf-meat,
Or ever they might
In their lust for murder
On the high king
Lay deadly hand.
Sigurd lay slain
On the south of the Rhine,
High from the fair tree
Croaked forth the raven,
"Ah, yet shall AtH
On you redden edges.
The old oaths shall weigh
On your souls, O warriors."
209
SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
Without stood Gudrun,
Giuki's daughter,
And the first word she said
Was even this word:
" Where then is Sigurd,
Lord of the Warfolk,
Since my kin
Come riding the foremost?"
One word Hogni
Had for an answer :
" Our swords have smitten
Sigurd asunder,
And the grey horse hangs drooping
O'er his lord lying dead."
Then quoth Brynhild,
Budli's daughter ;
" Good weal shall ye have
Of weapons and lands,
That Sigurd alone
Would surely have ruled
If he had lived
But a little longer.
" Ah, nothing seemly
For Sigurd to rule
Giuki's house
And the folk of the Goths,
When of him five sons
For the slaying of men.
THE LA V OF BR YNHILD.
Eager for battle
Should have been begotten !"
Then laughed Brynhild —
Loud rang the whole house —
One laugh only
From out her heart :
" Long shall your bliss be
Of lands and people,
Whereas the famed lord
Ye have felled to the earth !"
Then spake Gudrun,
Giuki's daughter ;
" Much thou speakest,
Many things fearful,
All grame be on Gunnar
The bane of Sigurd !
From a heart full of hate
Shall come heavy vengeance."
Forth sped the even
Enow there was drunken,
Full enow was there
Of all soft speech ;
And all men got sleep
When to bed they were gotten \
Gunnar only lay waking
Long after all men.
His feet fell he to moving,
Fell to speak to himself
SOJ^GS FROM THE EDDA.
The waster of men
Still turned in his mind,
What on the bough
Those tv\-ain would be saying,
The raven and erne,
As they rode their ways homeward.
But Brynhild awoke,
Budli's daughter.
May of the shield-folk,
A little ere morning :
" Thrust ye on, hold ye back,
— Now all harm is wrought, —
To tell of my sorrow,
Or to let all slip by me?"
All kept silence
After her speaking,
None might know
That woman's mind,
Or why she must weep
To tell of the work
That laughing once
Of men she prayed.
Brynhild spake.
In dreams, O Gunnar,
Grim things fell on me ;
Dead-cold the hall was.
And my bed was a-cold.
THE LA V OF BR YNHILD. 2 1 3
And thou, lord, wert riding
Reft of all bliss,
Laden with fetters
'Mid the host of thy foenien.
So now all ye,
O House of the Niblungs,
Shall be brought to naught,
O ye oath-breakers !
Think'st thou not, Gunnar,
How that betid,
When ye let the blood run
Both in one footstep?
With ill reward
Hast thou rewarded
His heart so fain
To be the foremost !
As well was seen
When he rode his ways,
That king of all worth,
Unto my wooing;
How the host-destroyer
Held to the vows
Sworn aforetime,
Sworn to the young king.
For his wounding-wand
All wrought with gold,
The king beloved
Laid between us ;
214 SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
Without were its edges
Wrought with fire,
But with venom-drops
Deep dyed within.
Thus this song telleth of the death of Sigurd, and
setteth forth how that they slew him without doors ; but
some say that they slew him within doors, sleeping in
his bed. But the Dutch Folk say that they slew him
out in the wood : and so sayeth the ancient song of
Gudrun, that Sigurd and the sons of Giuki were riding
to the Thing whenas he was slain. But all with one
accord say that they bewTayed him in their troth with
him, and fell on him as he lay unarrayed and unawares.
215
THE SECOND OR ANCIENT LAY
OF GUDRUN.
THIODREK the King was in Atli's house, and had
lost there the more part of his men : so there
Thiodrek and Gudrun bewailed their troubles one to
the other, and she spake and said :
A may of all mays
My mother reared me
Bright in bower ;
Well loved I my brethren,
Until that Giuki
With gold arrayed me,
With gold arrayed me,
And gave me to Sigurd.
Such was my Sigurd
Among the sons of Giuki
As is the green leek
O'er the low grass waxen.
2i6 SOJVGS FROM THE EDDA.
Or a hart high-limbed
Over hurrj'ing deer,
Or gleed-red gold
Over grey silver.
Till me they begrudged,
Those my brethren,
The fate to have him.
Who was first of all men ;
Nor might they sleep
Nor sit a-dooming
Ere they let slay
My well-loved Sigurd.
Grani ran to the Thing,
There was clatter to hear,
But never came Sigurd
Himself thereunto;
All the saddle-girt beasts
With blood were besprinkled,
As faint with the way
Neath the slayers they went.
Then greeting I went
With Grani to talk,
And with tear-furrowed cheeks
I bade him tell all ;
But drooping laid Grani,
His head in the grass,
For the steed well wotted
Of his master's slaying.
ANCIENT LA V OF G UDR UN
A long while I wandered,
Long my mind wavered,
Ere the kings I might ask
Concerning my king.
Then Gunnar hung head.
But Hogni told
Of the cruel slaying
Of my Sigurd :
" On the water's far side
Lies, smitten to death,
The bane of Guttorm
To the wolves given over.
" Go, look on Sigurd,
On the ways that go southward,
There shalt thou hear
The ernes high screaming
The ravens a-croaking
As their meat they crave for-;
Thou shalt hear the wolves howlint
Over thine husband."
" How hast thou, Hogni,
The heart to tell me,
Me of joy made empty,
Of such misery ?
Thy wretched heart
May the ravens tear
Wide over the world.
With no men mayst thou wend ! "
2i8 SONGS FROM THE ED DA.
One thing Hogni
Had for answer,
Fallen from his high heart,
Full of all trouble :
" More greeting yet,
0 Gudrun, for thee,
If my heart the ravens
Should rend asunder !"
Thence I turned
From the talk and the trouble
To go a leasing*
What the wolves had left me ;
No sigh I made
Nor smote hands together,
Nor did I wail
As other women
When I sat over
My Sigurd slain.
Night methought it,
And the moonless dark,
When I sat in sorrow
Over Sigurd :
Better than all things
1 deemed it would be
If they would let me
Cast my life by,
* The original has 'a vií lesa ;' 'leasing' is the word still
sad for gleaning in many country sides in England.
ANCIEN7 LAY OF G UDR UN. 219
Or burn me up
As they burn the birch-wood.
From the fell I wandered
Five days together,
Until the high hall
Of Half lay before me ;
Seven seasons there
I sat with Thora,
The daughter of Hacon,
Up in Denmark.
My heart to gladden
With gold she wrought
Southland halls
And swans of the Dane-folk :
There had we painted
The chiefs a-playing ;
Fair our hands wrought
Folk of the kings.
Red shields we did,
Doughty knights of the Huns,
Hosts spear-dight, hosts helm-dight,
All a high king's fellows ;
And the ships of Sigmund
From the land swift sailing ;
Heads gilt over
And prows fair graven.
On the cloth we broidered
That tide of their battling,
SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
Siggeir and Siggar,
South in Fion.
Then heard Grimhild,
The Queen of Gothland,
How I was abiding,
Weighed down with woe ;
And she thrust the cloth from her
And called to her sons,
And oft and eagerly
Asked them thereof,
Who for her son
Would their sister atone.
Who for her lord slain
Would lay down weregild.
Fain was Gunnar
Gold to lay down
All wrongs to atone for,
And Hogni in likewise ;
Then she asked who was fain
Of faring straightly,
The steed to saddle
To set forth the wain,
The horse to back.
And the hawk to fly,
To shoot forth the arrow
From out the yew-bow.
Valdarr the Dane-king
Came with Jarisleif
ANCIENT LAY OF G UDR UN.
Eymod the third went
Then went Jarizskar ;
In kingly wise
In they wended,
The host of the Longbeards ;
Red cloaks had they,
Byrnies short-cut
Helms strong hammered,
Girt with glaives,
And hair red-gleaming.
Each would give me
Gifts desired,
Gifts desired
Speech dear to my heart,
If they might yet
Despite my sorrow
Win back my trust.
But in them nought I trusted.
Then brought me Grimhild
A beaker to drink of.
Cold and bitter
Wrong's memory to quench ;
Made great was that drink
With the might of the earth.
With the death-cold sea
And the blood that Son* holdeth.
* Son was the vessel into which was poured the blood of Quasir,
the God of poetry.
SOA'GS FROM THE ED DA.
On that horn's face were there
All the kin of letters
Cut aright and reddened,
How should I rede them rightly ?
The ling-fish long
Of the land of Hadding
Wheat-ears unshorn,
And wild things' inwards.
In that mead were mingled
Many ills together,
Blood of all the wood,
And brown-burnt acorns ;
The black dew of the hearth,*
And god-doomed dead beasts' inwards,
And the swine's liver sodden,
For wrongs late done that deadens.
Then waned my memory
When that was within me,
Of my lord 'mid the hall
By the iron laid low.
Three kings came
Before my knees
Ere she herself
Fell to speech vA\\\ me.
" I will give to thee, Gudrun,
Gold to be glad with,
* This means soot.
ANCIENT LAY OF G UDR UN 223
All the great wealth
Of thy father gone from us,
Rings of red gold
And the great hall of Lodver,
And all fair hangings left
By the king late fallen.
" Maids of the Huns
Woven pictures to make,
And work fair in gold
Till thou deem'st thyself glad,
Alone shalt thou rule
O'er the riches of Budh,
Shalt be made great with gold,
And be given to Atli."
" Never will I
Wend to a husband,
Or wed the brother
Of Queen Brynhild ;
Naught it beseems me
With the son of Budli
Kin to bring forth.
Or to live and be merry."
" Nay, the high chiefs
Reward not with hatred,
For take heed that I
Was the first in this tale !
To thy heart shall it be
As if both these had life,
SOJVGS FROM THE EDDA.
Sigurd and Sigmund,
When thou hast borne sons."
" Naught may I, Grimhild,
Seek after gladness,
Nor deem aught hopeful
Of any high warrior,
Since wolf and raven
Were friends together,
The greedy, the cruel
O'er great Sigurd's heart-blood.
" Of all men that can be
For the noblest of kin
This king have I found,
And the foremost of all ;
Him shalt thou have
Till with eld thou art heavy —
Be thou ever unwed.
If thou wilt naught of him ! "
" Nay, nay, bid me not
With thy words long abiding
To take unto me
That balefullest kin ;
This king shall bid Gunnar
Be stung to his bane,
And shall cut the heart
From out of Hogni.
" Nor shall I leave life
Ere the keen lord,
ANCIENT LAY OF G UDR UN. 225
The eager in sword-play
My hand shall make end of."
Grimhild a-weeping
Took up the word then,
When the sore bale she wotted
Awaiting her sons,
And the bane hanging over
Her offspring beloved.
" I will give thee, moreover,
Great lands, many men,
Wineberg and Valberg,
If thou wilt but have them ;
Hold them lifelong,
And live happy, O daughter ! "
" Then him must I take
From among kingly men,
'Gainst my heart's desire,
From the hands of my kinsfolk ;
But no joy I look
To have from that lord :
Scarce may my brother's bane
Be a shield to my sons."
Soon was each warrior
Seen on his horse,
But the Gaulish women
Into wains were gotten;
Then seven days long
O'er a cold land we rode,
2 26 SONGS FROM THE EDD...
And for seven other
Clove we the sea-waves.
But with the third seven
O'er dry land we wended.
There the gate-wardens
Of the burg high and wide,
Unlocked the barriers
Ere the burg-garth we rode to-
Atli woke me
When meseemed I was
Full evil of heart
For my kin dead slain.
" In such wise did the Noms
Wake me or now" —
Fain was he to know
Of this ill foreshowing —
" That methought, O Gudnm,
Giuki's daughter,
That thou setst in my heart
A sword \\Tought for guile."
" For fires tokening I deem it
That dreaming of iron.
But for pride and for lust
The ^vrath of fair women.
Against some bale
Belike, I shall bum thee
ANCIENT LAY OF G UDR UN.
For thy solace and healing
Though hateful thou art."
" In the fair garth methought
Had saplings fallen
E'en such as I would
Should have waxen ever •
Uprooted were these,
And reddened with blood,
And borne to the bench,
And folk bade me eat of them.
" Methought from my hand then
Went hawks a-flying
Lacking their meat
To the land of all ill ;
Methought that their'hearts
Mingled with honey,
Swollen with blood
I ate amid sorrow.
'' Lo, next two whelps
From my hands I loosened.
Joyless were both,
And both a-howling ;
And now their flesh
Became naught but corpses.
Whereof must I eat
But sore against my will."
"O'er the prey of the fishers
Will folk give doom;
227
228
SOiVGS FROM THE EDDA.
From the bright white fish
The heads will they take ;
Within a few nights,
Fey as they are,
A little ere day
Of that draught will they eat."
Ne'er since lay I down,
Ne'er since would I sleep,
Hard of heart, in my bed : —
That deed have I to do.*
* The whole of this latter
part is fragmentary and obscure ;
there seems wanting to two of
the dreams some trivial interpre-
tation by Gudrun, like those
given by Hogni to Kostbera
in the Saga, of which nature,
of course, the interpretation con-
tained in the last stanza but
one is, as we have rendered it :
another rendering, from the diffe-
rent reading of the earlier edi-
tion of Edda (Copenhagen, 1818)
would make this refer much more
directly to the slaying of her sons
by Gudrun.
229
THE SONG OF ATLI.
GUDRUN, Giuki's daughter, avenged her brethren,
as is told far and wide : first she slew the
sons of Atli, and then Atli himself; and she burned the
hall thereafter, and all the household with it : and about
these matters in this song made : —
In days long gone
Sent Atli to Gunnar
A crafty one riding,
Knefrud men called him ;
To Giuki's garth came he,
To the hall of Gunnar,
To the benches gay-dight.
And the gladsome drinking.
There drank the great folk
'Mid the guileful one's silence,
Drank wine in their fair hall :
The Huns' wrath they feared,
When Knefrud cried
In his cold voice.
230 SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
As he sat on the high seat,
That man of the Southland :
" AtH has sent me
Riding swift on his errands
On the bit-griping steed
Through dark woodways unbeaten,
To bid thee King Gunnar
Come to his fair bench
With helm well-adorned,
To the home of King Atli.
" Shields shall ye have there
And spears ashen-shafted,
Helms ruddy with gold,
And hosts of the Huns ;
Saddle-gear silver-gilt,
Shirts red as blood,
The hedge of the warwife,
And horses bit-griping.
" And he saith he will give you
Gnitaheath wide-spread.
And whistling spears
And prows well-gilded,
Mighty wealth
With the stead of Danpi,
And that noble wood
Men name the Murkvvood."
Then Gunnar turned head
And spake unto Hogni :
SONG OF ATLI. 231
" What rede from thee, high one,
Since such things we hear?
No gold know I
On Gnitaheath,
That we for our parts
Have not portion as great.
" Seven halls we have
Fulfilled of swords,
And hilts of gold
Each sword there has ;
My horse is the best,
My blade is the keenest ;
Fair my bow o'er the bench is,
Gleams my byrny with gold ;
Brightest helm, brightest shield, " ^.
From Kiar's dwelling ere brought — OtCi/i' \J (a
Better all things I have
Than all things of the Huns."
Hogiii said.
" What mind has our sister
That a ring she hath sent us
In weed of wolves clad ?
Bids she not to be wary ?
For a wolfs hair I found
The fair ring wreathed about ;
Wolf beset shall the way be
If we wend on this errand."
No sons whetted Gunnar,
Nor none of his kin.
232 SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
Nor learned men nor wise men,
Nor such as were mighty.
Then spake Gunnar
E'en as a king should speak,
Glorious in mead-hall
From great heart and high :
"Rise up now Fiornir,
Forth down the benches
Let the gold-cups of great ones
Pass in hands of my good-men !
Well shall we drink wine,
Draughts dear to our hearts,
Though the last of all feasts
In our fair house this be !
" For the wolves shall rule
O'er the wealth of the Niblungs,
With the pine-woods' wardens
If Gunnar perish :
And the black-felled bears
With fierce teeth shall bite
For the glee of the dog-kind,
If again comes not Gunnar."
Then good men never shamed,
Greeting aloud,
Led the great king of men
From the garth of his home ;
And cried the fair son
Of Hogni the king :
SOJVG OF ATLI. 233
" Fare happy, O Lords,
Whereso your hearts lead you !"
Then the bold knights
Let their bit-griping steeds
Wend swift o'er the fells,
Tread the murk-wood unknown,
All the Hunwood was shaking
As the hardy ones fared there ;
O'er the green meads they urged
Their steeds shy of the goad.
Then Atli's land saw they ;
Great towers and strong,
And the bold men of Bikki
Aloft on the burg :
The Southland folks' hall
Set with benches about,
Dight with bucklers well bounden,
And bright white shining shields.
There drank Atli,
The awful Hun king,
Wine in his fair hall ;
Without were the warders,
Gunnar's folk to have heed of.
Lest they had fared thither
With the whistling spear
War to wake 'gainst the king.
But first came their sister
As they came to the hall.
234 SO^^GS FROM THE EDDA.
Both her brethren she met,
With beer Uttle gladdened :
" Bewrayed art thou, Gunnar !
What dost thou great king
To deal war to the Huns ?
Go thou swift from the hall !
" Better, brother, hadst thou
Fared here in thy bymy
Than with helm gaily dight
Looked on Atli's great house :
Thou hadst sat then in saddle
Through days bright with the sun
Fight to awaken
And fair fields to redden :
" O'er the folk fate makes pale
Should the Norn's tears have fallen,
The shield-mays of the Huns
Should have known of all sorrow ;
And King Atli himself
To worm-close should be brought ;
But now is the worm-close
Kept but for thee."
Then spake Gunnar
Great 'mid the people ;
" Over-late sister
The Niblungs to summon ;
A long way to seek
The helping of warriors,
SONG OF ATLI. 235
The high lords unshamed,
From the hills of the Rhine !"
Seven Hogni beat down
With his sword sharp-grinded
And the eighth man he thrust
Amidst of the fire.
Ever so shall famed warrior
Fight with his foemen,
As Hogni fought
For the hand of Gunnar.
But on Gunnar they fell,
And set him in fetters,
And bound hard and fast
That friend of Burgundians ;
Then the warrior they asked
If he would buy life.
Buy life with gold
That king of the Goths.
Nobly spake Gunnar,
Great lord of the Niblungs ;
" Hogni's bleeding heart first
Shall lie in mine hand,
Cut from the breast
Of the bold-riding lord.
With bitter-sharp knife
From the son of the king."
236 SOA^GS FROM THE EDDA.
With guile the great one
Would they beguile,
On the wailing thrall
Laid they hand unwares,
And cut the heart
From out of Hjalli,
Laid it bleeding on trencher,
And bare it to Gunnar.
" Here have I the heart
Of Hjalli the trembler.
Little like to the heart
Of Hogni the hardy :
As much as it trembleth
Laid on the trencher,
By the half more it trembled
In the breast of him hidden."
Then laughed Hogni
When they cut the heart from him,
From the crest-smith yet quick,
Little thought he to quail.
The hard acorn of thought
From the high king they took,
Laid it bleeding on trencher
And bare it Gunnar.
" Here have I the heart
Of Hogni the hardy,
Little like to the heart
Of Hjalli the trembler.
SONG OF ATLI. 237
H0WS0 little it quaketh
Laid here on the dish,
Yet far less it quaked
In the breast of him laid.
" So far mayst thou bide
From men's eyen, O Atli,
As from that treasure
Thou shalt abide !
" Behold in my heart
Is hidden for ever
That hoard of the Niblungs,
Now Hogni is dead.
Doubt drew me two ways
While the twain of us lived,
But all that is gone
Now I live on alone.
" The great Rhine shall rule.
O'er the hate-raising treasure,
That gold of the Niblungs,
The seed of the gods :
In the weltering water
Shall that wealth lie a-gleaming,
Or it shine on the hands
Of the children of Huns !"
Then cried Atli,
King of the Hun-folk,
" Drive forth your wains now,
The slave is fast bounden."
238 SOJVGS FROM THE EDDA.
And straightly thence
The bit-shaking steeds
Drew the hoard-warden,
The war-god to his death.
AtU the great king,
Rode upon Glaum,
With shields set round about,
And sharp thorns of battle :
Gudrun, bound by wedlock
To these, victory made gods of,
Held back her tears
As the hall she ran into.
" Let it fare with thee, Atli,
E'en after thine oaths sworn
To Gunnar full often ;
Yea, oaths sworn of old time,
'*,. . ^ -f- By the sun sloping southward,
J , ^ By the high burg of Sigty,
, <^W^ 5*'' ^'^ By the fair bed of rest.
By the red ring of Ull!"
Now a host of men
Cast the high king alive
Into a close
Crept o'er Anthin
With most foul worms,
Fulfilled of all venom,
Ready grave to dig
In his doughty heart.
SOJVG OF ATLI.
Wrathful-hearted he smote
The harp with his hand,
Gunnar laid there alone ;
And loud rang the strings. —
In such wise ever
Should hardy ring-scatterer
Keep gold from all folk
In the garth of his foemen.
Then Atli would wend
About his wide land,
On his steed brazen-shod,
Back from the murder.
Din there was in the garth,
All thronged with the horses ;
High the Aveapon-song rose
From men come from the heath.
Out then went Gudrun,
'Gainst Atli returning.
With a cup gilded over,
To greet the land's ruler :
" Come, then, and take it,
King glad in thine hall.
From Gudrun's hands,
For the hell-farers groan not ! "
Clashed the beakers of Ath,
Wine-laden on bench,
As in hall there a-gatbered,
The Huns fell a-talking.
239
:4o SOiVGS FROM THE EDDA.
And the long-bearded eager ones
Entered therein,
From a murk den new-come,
From the murder of Gunnar.
Then hastened the sweet-faced
Delight of the shield-folk.
Bright in the fair hall,
Wine to bear to them :
The dreadful woman
Gave dainties withal
To the lords pale with fate,
Laid, strange word upon Atli :
" The hearts of thy sons
Hast thou eaten, sword-dealer,
All bloody with death
And drenched with honey:
In most heavy mood
Brood o'er venison of men !
Drink rich draughts therewith,
Down the high benches send it !
" Never callest thou now
From henceforth to thy knee
Fair Erp or fair Eitil,
Bright-faced with the drink ;
Never seest thou them now
Amidmost the seat,
Scattering the gold.
Or shafting of spears ;
SONG OF ATLI. 241
Manes trimming duly,
Or driving steeds forth ! "
Din arose from the benches,
Dread song of men was there,
Noise 'mid the fair hangings,
As all Hun's children wept ;
All saving Gudrun,
Who never gat greeting,
For her brethren bear-hardy.
For her sweet sons and bright,
The young ones, the simple
Once gotten with Atli.
The seed of gold
Sowed the swan-bright woman,
Rings of red gold
She gave to the house-carls ;
Fate let she wax,
Let the bright gold flow forth,
In naught spared that woman
The store-houses' wealth.
Atli unware
Was a-weary with drink ;
No weapon had he.
No heeding of Gudrun —
Ah, the play would be better,
When in soft wise they twain
R
242 SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
Would full often embrace
Before the great lords !
To the bed with sword-point
Blood gave she to drink
With a hand fain of death,
And she let the dogs loose :
Then in from the hall-door —
— Up waked the house-carls —
Hot brands she cast,
Gat revenge for her brethren.
To the flame gave she all
Who therein might be found ;
Fell adown the old timbers.
Reeked all treasure-houses ;
There the shield-mays were burnt.
Their lives' span brought to naught '.
In the fierce fire sank down
All the stead of the Budlungs.
Wide told of is this —
Ne'er sithence in the w orld.
Thus fared bride clad in byrny
For her brothers' avenging ;
For behold, this fair woman
To three kings of the people,
Hath brought very death
Or ever she died !
243
THE WHETTING OF GUDRUN.
GUDRUN went down unto the sea whenas she had
slain Ath, and she cast herself therem, for she
was fain to end her life : but nowise might she drown.
She drave over the firths to the land of King Jonakr,
and he wedded her, and their sons were Sorli, and Erp,
and Hamdir, and there was Swanhild, Sigurd's daughter
nourished : and she was given to Jormunrek the Mighty.
Now Bikki was a man of his, and gave such counsel to
Randver, the king's son, as that he should take her ; and
with that counsel were the young folk well content.
Then Bikki told the king, and the king let hang
Randver, but bade Swanhild be trodden under horses'
feet. But when Gudrun heard thereof, she spake to her
sons —
Words of strife heard I,
Huger than any,
Woeful words spoken,
Sprung from all sorrow,
When Gudrun fierce-hearted
With the grimmest of words '
Whetted her sons
Unto the slaying.
244 SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
" Why are ye sitting here ?
Why sleep ye hfe away ?
Why doth it grieve you nought ?
Glad words to speak,
Now when your sister, —
Young of years was she —
Has Jormunrek trodden
With the treading of horses ? —
" Black horses and white
In the highway of warriors ;
Grey horses that know
The roads of the Goths.—
" Little like are ye groAvn
To that Gunnar of old days !
Nought are your hearts
As the heart of Hogni !
Well would ye seek
Vengeance to win
If your mood were in aught
As the mood of my brethren,
Or the hardy hearts
Of the Kings of the Huns ! "
Then spake Hamdir,
The high-hearted —
" Litde didst thou
Praise Hogni's doings,
WTien Sigurd woke
From out of sleep,
THE WHETTING OF GUDRUN. 245
And the blue-white bed-gear
Upon thy bed
Grew red with man's blood, —
With the blood of thy mate !
" Too baleful vengeance
Wroughtest thou for thy brethren,
Most sore and evil
Wlien thy sons thou slewedst,
Else all we together
On Jormunrek,
Had wrought sore vengeance
For that our sister.
" Come bring forth quickly
The Hun kings' bright gear,
Since thou hast urged us
f'Unto the sword-Thing ! "
Laughing went Gudrun
To the bower of good gear.
Kings' crested helms
From chests she drew,
And wide-^vrought byrnies
Bore to her sons :
Then on their horses
Load laid the heroes.
Then spake Hamdir,
The high-hearted —
" Never cometh again
246 SONGS FROM THE ED DA.
His mother to see
The spear-god laid low
In the land of the Goths.
That one arv-el mayst thou
For all of us drink,
For sister Swanhild,
And us thy sons."
Greeted Gudrun,
Giuki's daughter ;
Sorrowing she went
In the forecourt to sit,
That she might tell,
With cheeks tear-furrowed.
Her weary wail
In many a wise.
" Three fires I knew, ,
Three hearths I knew,
To three husbands' houses
Have I been carried ;
And better than all
Had been Sigurd alone,
He whom my brethren
Brought to his bane.
" Such sore grief as that
Methought never should be,
Yet more indeed
Was left for my torment
Then, when the great ones
Gave me to Atli.
THE WHETTING OF GUDRUN. 247
" My fair bright boys
I bade unto speech,
Nor yet might I win
Weregild for my bale,
Ere I had hewn off
Those Niblungs' heads.
" To the sea-strand I went
With the norns sorely wroth
For I would thrust from me
The storm of their torment ;
But the high billows
Would not drown, but bore me
Forth, till I stepped a-land
Longer to live.
" Then I went a-bed —
— Ah, better in the old days,
This was the third time ! —
To a king of the people ;
Offspring I brought forth,
Props of a fair house.
Props of a fair house,
Jonakr's fair sons.
" But around Swanhild
Bond-maidens sat,
Her, that of all mine
Most to my heart was ;
Such was my Swanhild,
In my hall's midmost,
As is the sunbeam
Fair to behold.
248 SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
" In gold I arrayed her,
And goodly raiment,
Or ever I gave her
To the folk of the Goths.
That was the hardest
Of my heavy woes.
When the bright hair, —
O the bright hair of Swanhild !
In the mire was trodden
By the treading of horses.
" This was the sorest,
\Mien my love, my Sigurd,
Reft of glory
In his bed gat ending :
But this the grimmest
When glittering worms
Tore their way
Through the heart of Gunnar.
" But this the keenest
When they cut to the quick
Of the hardy heart
Of the unfeared Hogni.
Of much of bale I mind me
Of many griefs I mind me ;
AVTiy should I sit abiding
Yet more bale and more ?
" Thy coal-black horse,
O Sigurd bridle.
The swift on the highway !
O let him speed hither !
THE WHETTING OF GUDRUN. 249
Here sitteth no longer
Son or daughter,
More good gifts
To give to Gudrun !
" Mindst thou not, Sigurd,
Of the speech betwixt us,
When on one bed
We both sat together,
0 my great king —
That thou wouldst come to mt
E'en from the hall of Hell,
1 to thee from the fair earth ?
" Pile high, O earls,
The oaken pile,
Let it be the highest
That ever queen had !
Let the fire burn swift.
My breast with woe laden.
And thaw all my heart,
Hard, heavy with sorrow ! "
Now may all earls
Be bettered in mind.
May the grief of all maidens
Ever be minished,
For this tale of sorrow
So told to its ending.
THE LAY OF HA:\IDIR.
Great deeds of bale
In the garth began,
At the sad dawning
The tide of Elves' sorrow-
When day is a-waxing
And man's grief awaketh,
And the sorroAv of each one
The early day quickeneth.
Not now, not now,
Nor yesterday.
But long ago
Has that day worn by,
That ancientest time
That first time to tell of,
Then, whenas Gudrun,
Bom of Giuki,
Whetted her sons
To Swanhild's avenging.
" Your sister's name
Was naught but Swanhild,
THE LA V OF HAMDIR. 251
Whom Jormunrek
With horses has trodden ! —
White horses and black
On the war-beaten way,
Grey horses that go
On the roads of the Goths.
" All alone am I now
As in holt is the aspen ;
As the fir-tree of boughs,
So of kin am I bare ;
As bare of things longed for
As the willow of leaves
When the bough-breaking wind
The wanii day endeth.
" Few, sad, are ye left,
O kings of my folk !
Ye alone living
Last shreds of my kin !
" Ah, naught are ye grown
As that Gunnar of old days ;
Naught are your hearts
As the heart of Hogni !
Well would ye seek
Vengeance to win
If your hearts were in aught
As the hearts of my brethren !"
Then spake Hamdir
The high-hearted :
252 SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
" Nought hadst thou to praise
The doings of Hogni,
Wlien they woke up Sigurd
From out of slumber,
And in bed thou satt'st up
'j\Iid the banes-men's laughter.
" Then when thy bed-gear,
Blue-white, well-woven
By art of craftsmen
All swam ^nth thy king's blood ;
Then Sigurd died,
O'er his dead corpse thou sattest
Not heeding aught gladsome,
Since Gunnar so willed it.
" Great grief for Atli
Gatst thou by Erp's murder.
And the end of thine Eitil,
But worse grief for thyself.
Good to use sword
For the slaying of others
In such wise that its edge
Shall not turn on ourselves !'
Then well spake Sorli
From a heart full of wisdom ;
" No words will I
Make with my mother.
Though both ye twain
Need words belike —
THE LAY OF HAMDIR. 253
What askest thou, Gudrun,
To let thee go greetmg ?
" Weep for thy brethren,
Weep for thy sweet sons,
And thy nighest kinsfolk
Laid by the fight-side !
Yea, and thou Gudrun,
May'st greet for us twain
Sitting fey on our steeds
Doomed in far lands to die.
From the garth forth they went
With hearts full of fury,
Sorli and Hamdir,
The sons of Gudrun,
And they met on the way
The wise in all wiles :
" And thou little Erp,
What helping from thee?"
He of alien womb
Spake out in such wise :
" Good help for my kin,
Such as foot gives to foot,
Or flesh-covered hand
Gives unto hand ! "
" What helping for foot
The help that foot giveth,
254 SOJVGS FROM THE EDDA.
Or for flesh-covered hand
The helping of hand?"
Then spake Erp
Yet once again,
Mock spake the prince
As he sat on his steed :
" Fool's deed to show
The way to a dastard !"
" Bold beyond measure,"
Quoth they, " is the base-bom !"
Out from the sheath
Drew they the sheath-steel,
And the glaives' edges played
For the pleasure of hell ;
By the third part they minished
The might that they had,
Their young kin they let lie
A-cold on the earth.
Then their fur-cloaks they shook
And bound fast their swords,
In webs goodly woven
Those great ones were clad ;
Young they went o'er the fells
Where the dew was new-fallen
Swift, on steeds of the Huns,
Heavy vengeance to wreak.
Forth stretched the ways,
And an ill way they found.
THE LA Y OF HAMDIR. 255
Yea, their sister's son*
Hanging slain upon tree —
Wolf-trees by the wind made cold
At the town's westward
Loud with cranes' clatter —
111 abiding there long !
Din in the king's hall
Of men merry with drink,
And none might hearken
The horses' tramping
Or ever the warders
Their great horn winded.
Then men went forth
To Jormunrek
To tell of the heeding
Of men under helm :
" Give ye good counsel !
Great ones are come hither,
For the wrong of men mighty
Was the may to death trodden."
Loud Jormunrek laughed.
And laid hand to his beard,
Nor bade bring his byrny,
But with the wine fighting.
Shook his red locks.
On his white shield sat staring,
* Randver, the son of their sister's husband.
256 SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
And in his hand
Swung the gold cup on high.
" Sweet sight for me
Those twain to set eyes on,
Sorli and Hamdir,
Here in my hall !
Then with bowstrings
Would I bind them,
And hang the good Giukings
Aloft on the gallows !"
Then spake Hrothglod
From off the high steps,
Spake the slim-fingered
Unto her son, —
— For a threat was cast forth
Of what ne'er should fall —
" Shall two men alone
Two hundred Gothfolk
Bind or bear do\vn
In the midst of their burg?"
Strife and din in the hall,
Cups smitten asunder
Men lay low in blood
From the breasts of Goths flowing.
THE LA V OF HAMDIR. 257
Then spake Hamdir,
The high-hearted :
" Thou cravedst, O king,
For the coming of us,
The sons of one mother.
Amidmost thine hall —
Look on these hands of thine,
Look on these feet of thine,
Cast by us, Jormunrek,
On to the flame !"
Then cried aloud
The high Gods' kinsman,*
Bold under byrny, —
Roared he as bears roar ;
" Stones to the stout ones
That the spears bite not.
Nor the edges of steel,
These sons of Jonakr !"
Quoth Sorli.
" Bale, brother, Avi-oughtst thou
By that bag's f opening.
Oft from that bag
Rede of bale cometh !
Heart hast thou, Hamdir,
If thou hadst heart's wisdom
* Odin, namely. f "Bag," his mouth.
S
258 SOJVGS FROM THE EDDA.
Great lack in a man
Who lacks ^^^sdom and lore ! "
Hamdir said.
" Yea, off were the head
If Erp were alive yet,
Our brother the bold
Whom we slew by the way ;
The far-famed through the world.—
Ah, the fates drave me on,
And the man war made holy.
There must I slay !"
Sorli said.
" Unmeet we should do
As the doings of wolves are.
Raising wrong each 'gainst other
As the dogs of the Norns,
The greedy ones nourished
In waste steads of the world.
In strong wise have we fought,
On Goths' corpses we stand,
Beat down by our edges.
E'en as ernes on the bough.
Great fame our might winneth,
Die we now, or to-morrow, —
No man lives till eve
Whom the fates doom at morning.
THE LA V OF HAAIDIR.
At the hall's gable-end
Fell Sorli to earth,
But Hamdir lay low
At the back of the houses.
Now this is called the Ancient Lay of Hamdir.
259
200
THE LAMENT OF ODDRUN.
THERE was a king hight Heidrik, and his daughter
was called Borgny, and the name of her lover
was Vilmund. Now she might no\\'ise be made lighter
of a child she travailed with, before Oddrun, Atli's sister,
came to her, — she who had been the love of Gunnar,
Giuki's son. But of their speech together has this
been sung :
I have heard tell
In ancient tales
How a may there came
To Moma-land,
Because no man
On mould abiding
For Heidrik's daughter
Might win healing.
All that heard Oddrun,
Ath's sister.
How that the damsel
Had hea\7 sickness,
THE LAMENT OF ODD RUN. 261
So she led from stall
Her bridled steed,
And on the swart one
Laid the saddle.
She made her horse wend
O'er smooth ways of earth,
Until to a high-built
Hall she came ;
Then the saddle she had
From the hungry horse,
And her ways wended
In along the wide hall,
And this Avord first
Spake forth therewith :
" What is most famed,
Afield in Hunland,
Or what may be
Blithest in Hunland?"
Quoth the hafidinaid.
"Here lieth Borgny,
Borne down by trouble,
Thy sweet friend, O Oddrun,
See to her helping !"
Oddrun said.
" Who of the lords
Hath laid this grief on her,
Why is the anguish
Of Borgny so weary ?"
202 SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
The handmaid said.
" He is hight Vilmund,
Friend of hawk-bearers,
He wrapped the damsel
In the wann bed-gear
Five winters long
Without her father's wotting."
No more than this
They spake methinks ;
Kind sat she down
By the damsel's knee ;
Mightily sang Oddrun,
Eagerly sang Oddrun,
Sharp piercing songs
By Borgny's side :
Till a maid and a boy
Might tread on the world's ways,
Blithe babes and sweet
Of Hogni's bane :
Then the damsel forewearied
The word took up,
The first word of all
That had won from her :
" So may help thee
All helpful things,
Fey and Freyia,
And all the fair Gods
THE LAMENT OF ODDRUN. 263
As thou hast thnist
This toraient from me !"
Oddnm said.
" Yet no heart had I
For thy helping,
Since never wert thou
Worthy of helping,
But my word I held to,
That of old was spoken
When the high lords
Dealt out the heritage,
That every soul
I would ever help."
Borgny said.
" Right mad art thou, Oddnm,
And reft of thy wits,
A\Tiereas thou speakest
Hard words to me
Thy fellow ever
Upon the earth
As of brothers twain,
We had been born."
Oddnm said.
" Well I mind me yet,
What thou saidst that evening,
Wlienas I bore forth
Fair drink for Gunnar ;
204 SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
Such a thing, saidst thou
Should fall out never,
For any may
Save for me alone."
Mind had the damsel
Of the weary day
Whenas the high lords
Dealt out the heritage,
And she sat her do\Mi,
The sorrowful woman,
To tell of the bale,
And the heavy trouble.
" Nourished was I
In the hall of kings —
Most folk were glad —
'Mid the council of great ones :
In fair life lived I,
And the wealth of my father
For five winters only.
While yet he had life.
" Such were the last words
That ever he spake,
The king forewearied,
Ere his ways he went ;
For he bade folk give me
The gold red-gleaming,
And give me in Southlands
To the son of Grimhild.
THE LAMENT OF ODD RUN. 265
" But Brynhild he bade
To the helm to betake her
And said that Death-chooser
She should become ;
And that no better
Might ever be bom
Into the world,
If fate would not spoil it.
" Brynhild in bower
Sewed at her broidery,
Folk she had
And fair lands about her ;
Earth lay a-sleeping,
Slept the heavens aloft
When Fafnir's-bane
The burg first saw.
" Then was war waged
With the Welsh-wrought sword
And the burg all broken
That Brynhild owned ;
Nor wore long space.
E'en as well might be,
Ere all those wiles
Full well she knew.
" Hard and dreadful
Was the vengeance she drew down,
So that all we
Have woe enow.
266 SOJVGS FROM THE EDDA.
Through all lands of the world
Shall that story fare forth
How she did her to death
For the death of Sigurd.
" But therewithal Gunnar
The gold-scatterer
Did I fall to loving
As she should have loved him.
Rings of red gold
Would they give to Atli,
Would give to my brother
Things goodly and great.
" Yea, fifteen steads
Would they give for me,
And the load of Grani
To have as a gift ;
But then spake Atli,
That such was his will,
Never gift to take
From the sons of Giuki.
" But we in nowise
Might love withstand.
And mine head must I lay
On my love, the ring-breaker ;
And many there were
Among my kin,
Who said that they
Had seen us together.
THE LAMENT OF ODDRUN. ^67
" Then Atli said
That I surely never
Would fall to crime
Or shameful folly :
But now let no one
For any other,
That shame deny
\Vhere love has dealing.
" For Atli sent
His serving-folk
Wide through the murkwood
Proof to win of me,
And thither they came
Where they ne'er should, have come,
Where one bed we twain
Had dight betwixt us.
" To those men had we given
Rings of red gold,
Naught to tell
Thereof to Atli,
But straight they hastened
Home to the house,
And all the tale
To Atli told.
" Whereas from Gudmn
Well they hid it,
Though better by half
Had she have known it.
268 SONGS FROM THE EDDA.
" Din was there to hear
Of the hoofs gold-shod,
When into the garth
Rode the sons of Giuki.
" There from Hogni
The heart they cut,
But into the worm-close
Cast the other.
There the king, the wise-hearted.
Swept his harp-strings,
For the mighty king
Had ever mind
That I to his helping
Soon should come.
" But now was I gone
Yet once again
Unto Geirmund,
Good feast to make ;
Yet had I hearing.
E'en out from Hlesey,
How of sore trouble
The harp-strings sang.
" So I bade the bondmaids
Be ready swiftly.
For I listed to save
THE LAMENT OF 0 DDR UN. 269
The life of the king,
And we let our ship
Swim over the sound,
Till Atli's dwelling
We saw all clearly.
Then came the wretch *
Crawling out,
E'en Atli's mother,
All sorrow upon her !
A grave gat her sting
In the heart of Gunnar,
So that no helping
Was left for my hero.
" O gold-clad woman,
Full oft I wonder
How I my life
Still hold thereafter,
For methought I loved
That light in battle.
The swift with the sword,
As my very self.
" Thou hast sat and hearkened
As I have told thee
Of many an ill-fate,
* Atli's mother took the form I killed to sleep by Gunnar's harp-
of the only adder that was not ' playing, and who slew him.
270 SOJVGS FROM THE EDDA.
Mine and theirs —
Each man Uveth
E'en as he may live —
Now hath gone forth
The greeting of Oddrun."
NOTES.
p. 2. — 'Wolf in holy places,' a man put out of the pale of
society for his crimes, an outlaw.
P. 7. — ' One-eyed ;' the man is Odin, who is always so repre-
sented, because he gave his eye as a pledge for a draught from the
fountain of Mimir, the source of all wisdom.
P. 25. — ' Noms came to him.' Nornir are the fates of the north-
ern mythology. They are three — Ui^i; the past ; Vei^andi, the
present; and Skuld, the future. They. sit beside the fountain of
Uri {Ur^arbnc7iicr), which is below one of the roots of Yggdrasil,
the world-tree, which tree their office it is to nourish by sprinkling
it with the waters of the fountain.
P. 30. — Valkyrja, ' Chooser of the elected.' The women were so
called whom Odin sent to choose those for death in battle who were
to join the Einherjai' in the hall of the elected, ' Val-höll'
P. 34. — The man in the boat is Odin, doubtless, as in the next
chapter.
P. 37.— ' There came a man into the fight, &c.' Odin, coming
to change the ownership of the sword he had given to Sigmund. See
above, p. 7-
P. 47. — Ran is the goddess of the sea wife of Ægir.
P. 52. — ' Grifir,' called Gripir in the Edda.
P. 54. — ' Then, quoth Sigurd,' &c. This and verses following
are inserted from the Reginsmál by the present translators.
P. 56. — Disir, sing. Dis. These are the guardian beings who
follow a man from his birth to his death. The word originally
means sister, and is used throughout the Eddaic poems as a dignified
synonym for woman, lady.
272 NOTES.
P. 60. — ' Unknown to men is my kin.' Sigurd refusing to tell
his name is to be referred to the superstition that a dying man could
throw a curse on his enemy.
P. 62. — Surt ; a fire-giant, who will destroy the world at the
Ragnarok, or destruction of all things.
The 'Æsir' are the gods of the Scandinavian mythology.
P. 66. — The Songs of the Birds is inserted from Regins-mál by
the translators.
P. 67. — ' Mayst thou,' misprinted for ' may not.'
P. 69,70, 71. — The stanzas here are inserted from Sigrdrifa-mal by
the translators.
P. 70. — Asyniur are the goddesses of Scandina\'ian mythology.
P. 78. — This chapter is nearly literally the same as chapter 166 of
the Wilkina-Saga : Ed. : Perinskiold, Stockholm, 1715.
P. 117. — Chap. xxxi. is the Eddaic poem, called the first Lay of
Gudrun, and is inserted here by the translators.
P. 127. — 'Dyed red by folk of the Gauls.' The original has
' raicdu manna blof>i — red dyed in theblood of men;' the Sagaman's
original error in dealing with the word ' Vala7-ipt,' in the correspond-
ing passage of the Short Lay of Sigurd.
P. 158. — In the prose Edda, the slaying of Swanhild is a spon-
taneous and sudden act on the part of the king. As he came back
from hunting one day, there sat Swanhild, washing her linen ; and
it came into the king's mind how that she was the cause of all his
woe ; so he and his men rode over her and slew her.
P. 161. — 'A certain man,' &c. Odin again ; he ends the tale as
he began it.
P. 163. — * And now,' &c., inserted by translators from the prose
Edda. The stanza at the end is inserted by translators from the
Whetting of Gudrun.
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF PERSONS, PLACES,
AND THINGS IN THE STORY.
Æsir, 62 {et passÍ7n)
Agnar, or Audi's brother, 7 1
Alf, the son of Hjalprek king
of Denmark, 39, 1 29
Alf, the son of Handing, 27
Alf tlie Old, king, 31, 89
Alswid, son of Heimir, 80
Andvari, son of Oinn, a dwarf, 46
Andvari's force (a waterfall), 46
Andvari's gift (a ring), 48
Asgarth, abode of the Æsir, the
Gods, 30
Aslaug, daughter of Sigurd Faf-
nir's-bane, 98
Atli, Budli's son, brother of
Brynhild, 86
Bekkhild, daughter of Budli,
wife of Heimir, 80
Bikki, King Jormunrek's coun-
sellor, 156
Borghild, Queen of Sigmund
Volsungson, 25
Bravoll (a field), 30
Bredi, thrall of Skadi, i
Brynhild, daughter of Budli,
65 {et passiiii)
Budli, king, 86
Busil-tarn, a river, 44
Denmark, 129
Dragonkeel (a shijj), 53
Dvalin, a dwarf, 62
Erp, sonof Jonakr, 155
Eylimi, King, 35
Eymod, 130
Eyolf, son of Handing, 27
Fafnir, son of Hreidmar, 44
Feng (Odin), 54
Fjolnir (Odin), 54
Fion, 130
Fjornir, 140
Frankland, 69
Franks, 130
Freyia, 4
Giaflaug, 118
Giuki, a king, 86
Glaimivor, second wifeof Gunnar,
Giuki'sson, 136
Gncevar,sonof Hogni Giukisson,
141
Gnipalund, 29
Gnitaheath, 44
Golnir, a giant, 30
Gothland, 6
Goti, a horse, 95
Gram, the family sword of the
Volsungs, 39
Grani, 30
Grani, horse of Sigurd Fafnir's-
bane, 44
Granmar, 28
Greeks, 97
Grifir (Edda Gripir), son of
Eylimi, 52
Grimhild, Giuki's queen, 86
Grindur, 31
Gudrun, daughter of Giuki, 85
{ct pass i 111)
274
INDEX.
Gullrond, a daughter of Giuki,
1 20
Gungnir, a sword, 74
Gunnar, son of Giuki, 86 {d pas-
sim)
Guttonn, son of Giuki, 86
Hacon, fatlier of Thora, 129
Hadding, 13 1
Hænir, one of the Æsir, 152
Hagbard, 88
Hagbard, son of Hunding, 27
Haki's sons, 88
Hamdir, son of Jonakr, 155
Hamund, son of Sigmund, 25
Hedinsey, 28
Heimir, 80
Helgi, son of Sigmund, called
Hunding's-bane, 28
Helm Gunnar, a king, 27
Herborg, 118
Hervard, son of Hunding, 27
Hindfell, 65
Hjalli, a thrall, 147
Hjalprek, king of Denmark, 39
Hjordis, daughter of Eylimi, 35
Hlymdale, 98
Hnikar, 54
Hodbrod, son of Granmar, 28
Hogni, son of Giuki, 86
Hogni, king, Sigrun's father, 27
Holkvir (not Holkvi), the horse
of Gunnar, 95
Hreidmar, 42
Hrimnir, a giant, 4
Hropt (Odin), 73
Huginn (Odin's raven), 54
Hunding, King, 27
Huns, 2
Jarisleif, 130
Jonakr, 155
Jormunrek (Ermanarik), 156
Kostbera, wife of Hogni Giukis-
son, 136
Leif, a ship-captain, 28
Ljod, daughter of thegiant Hrim-
nir, 4
Loki, one of the Æsir, 47
Longbeards, 130
Lowness, 30
Lyngi, king, son of Hunding, 35
Niblung, son of Hogni Giukis-
son, 152
Norfis-sound, 28
Norns (of threefold kin), 62
Oddrun, King Atli's sister, 126
Odin, I (ct passim)
Oinn, 47
Orkning, brother of Kostbera,
141
Otter, son of Hreidmar, 46
Ran, the sea goddess, 47
Randver, son of Jormunrek,
156
Redberg, 28
Regin, son of Hreidmar, 42
Rerir, son of Sigi, 2
Rhine, 86
Ring, 31
Ridil, a sword, 65
Rognir (Odin), 74
Rotti, a sword, 130
Saxons, 13c
Sigar, 88
Siggeir, King of Gothland, 6
Sigi, son of Odin, i
Sigmund, son of Sigurd Fafnir's-
bane, 94
Sigmund, son of Volsung, 5
Signy, daughter of Volsung, 5
Sigrun, daughter of Hogni, 27
Sigurd, son of Sigmund, called
Fafnir's-bane, 72 {et passim)
Sinfjotli, son of Sigmund, 42
Skadi, I
Sleipnir, Odin's steed, 77
Sok, an island, 31
INDEX.
275
Solar, son of Hogni Giukisson,
141
Sorli, sonof Jonakr, 155
Sunfells (Sunlitten hills, 26), 30
Surt, a fire-giant, 62
Swanhild, daughter of Sigurd
Fafnir's-bane, 155
Swarin's-cairn, 29
Sveggjud, a horse, 30
Sveipud, a horse, 30
Thora, daughter of Hacon, 129
Thrasness, 30
Unshapen, a holm, 62
Valbiorg, 132
Vanir, 75
Varinsfirth, 2S
Varinsey, 30
Vinbiorg, 132
Vingi, King Atli's messenger,
135
Vinskornir, a horse, 67
Volsung, son of Rerir, 5
Waldemar of Denmark, 1 30
Wolfstone, a field of battle, 3 1
LONDON :
Strangeways & Walden, Printers, 28 Casde Street, Leicester Square.
F. S. ELLIS'S PUBLICATIONS.
Fifth Edition. Tii'o ivls. Crou<n %vo. doth, price \(is.
THE EARTHLY PARADISE,
A collection of Tales in verse.
By WILLIAM MORRIS.
Part I.
Prologue, March and April, containing the Stories of —
THE WANDERERS. THE MAN BORN TO BE KING.
ATALANTA's race. THE DOOM OF KING ACRISIUS.
THE PROUD KING.
Part II.
May to August, containing the Stories of- —
CUPID AND PSYCHE. THE SON OF CRŒSUS.
THE WRITING ON THE IMAGE. THE WATCHING OF THE
THE LOVE OF ALCESTIS. FALCON.
THE LADY OF THE LAND. PYGMALION AND THE IMAGE.
OGIER THE DANE.
Second Edition. Crown %vo. cloth, price \2s.
THE EARTHLY PARADISE.
Part III.
September, October, and November, containing the
Stories of —
THE DEATH OF PARIS. THE MAN WHO NEVER
THE LAND EAST OF THE SUN LAUGHED AGAIN.
AND WEST OF THE MOON. THE STORY OF RHODOPE.
ACONTIUS AND CYDIPPE. THE LOVERS OF GUDRUN.
In October tvill be published the Fourth atid concUcding portion of
THE EARTHLY PARADISE.
F. S. Ellis's Publications.
Fourth Edition. Croivn ?>zv. cloth, price Zs.
THE
LIFE AND DEATH OF JASON.
A Poem, in Seventeen Books.
By William Morris, Author of ' The Earthly Paradise.
Notices of M>\ Morris's Works.
' Morris's "Jason" is in the purest, simplest, most idiomatic English, full of
freshness, full of life, vi^d in landscape, vivid in human action — worth reading
at the cost of many leisure hours, even to a busy man.
' We must own that the minute attention Mr. Morris bestows on scenic details
he also applies to the various phases of human emotion, and ofttimes he fills the
eyes with sudden sorrowless tears of sympathy with some homely trouble aptly
rendered, or elevates our thoughts with themes charming in their pure simplicity,
and strong with deep pathos.' — Times.
' A thorough purity of thought and language characterises Mr. Morris, . . .
and " The Earthly Paradise " is thereby adapted for conveying to our wives and
daughters a refined, though not diluted, version of those wonderful creations of
Greek fancy which the rougher se.\ alone is permitted to imbibe at first hand.
Yet in achieving this purification, .Mr. Morris ha.s not imparted lameness into his
versions. The impress of familiarity with classic fable is stamped on his pages,
and echoes of the Greek are wafted to us from afar both delicately and imper-
ceptibly. . . . Suflice it to say, that we have enjoyed such a thorough treat
in this, in every sense, rare volume, that we heartily commend it to our readers.
'Of Part III. — Those who found the charm of Mr. Morris's first volume so
rare and novel that they were fain to sigh when the last page was finished, may
now congratulate themselves upon the publication of a third part. Nor will they,
in what is now presented to them, deem that aught of this charm is diminished
through the circumstance that style and manner are no longer novel.' — Saturday
Re^iiezv.
' It may be doubted whether any poet of our day equals Mr. Morris in ena-
bling his readers to see the objects which are presented to him. It is certain,
however, that this power has never been displayed on so large a scale by any
contemporary. A word or two should be said on the brief descriptions of the
months, and upon the musings of the wanderers, both of which intervene between
the respective stories. Of these the former afford relief, by fresh and graphic
glimpses, of the passing seasons, and the latter are written in a sweet and pensive
vein, which, after the stir and interest of the narrative portion, floats to the ear
like music caught from sea in the momentary lull of the billows.'
'Of Part III. — A volume which, in its treatment of human motives and
feelings, displays, we think, higher qualities than the writer has yet exhibited,
and which in its painting of e.\ternal scenes has that admirable fusion of the real
and ideal which we have praised heretofore.' — At/ie>tæu»i.
' The book must be read by any one who wishes to know what it is like ; and
fe\y will read it without recognising its author for a poet who has struck a new
vein, and who preferring his art above popularity, has achieved a work which
will yet be popular wherever true poetry is understood.'
'Of Part III. — In the noble story- of "Gudrun" this (dramatic) power is
well sustained throughout, and in versifying this Saga, Mr. Morris has added a
genuine and pathetic vitality to the characters of the ill-starred heroine of Olaf
and Oswit', Kiartan and Bodli, Ingibiorg and Refna. This poem, taken alto-
gether, the most ambitious that Mr. Morris has yet produced, is well worth a
;areful analysis, which, however, we have no space to give it.' — Pall Mall Gazette.
F. S. Ellis's Publications.
Crcnvjt 8vo. doth, price 8j.
THE STORY OF GRETTIR THE
STRONG.
Translated from the Icelandic of the Grettis Saga (one of the most
remarkable prose works of ancient Icelandic Literature), by
W. Morris and E. Magnússon.
' The translator's work has heen admirably done ; the English may fairly be
called faultless ; and it is no slight satisfaction to read a book in which every-
thing is expressed in the fittest phrase, and in which we feel no temptation to
make any verbal changes.' — Saturday Revieiv.
Now ready, crown Szv. i;i an ornamental binding designed
for the Author, price 12s.
THE STORY OF THE VOLSUNGS
AND NIBLUNGS.
With Songs translated from the Elder Edda.
By WILLIAM MORRIS and E. MAGNUSSON.
AÍ07ÍI ready, croivn Zvo. in an ornamental binding designed by the Aiitlior
price \2.s.
POEMS.
By DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI.
Nearly ready, crozun Zvo. cloth.
SONGS BEFORE SUNRISE.
By Algernon Charles Swinburne, Author of ' Atalanta
in Calydon,' &c.
F. S. Ellis's Publications.
Jitst ready, croiun Svo. cloth, price "Js. bd.
'COMMONPLACE/
AND OTHER SHORT STORIES,
By Christina G. Rossetti, Author of ' Goblin Market.'
Zvo. cloth gilt, los. 6d.
THE VOIAGE AND TRAVAILE OF
SIR JOHN :\IAUNDEVILE, Kt.
A.D. 1322-46.
Which Treateth of the Way to Hierusalem ; and of the
Marvayles of Inde, with other Hands and Countryes.
Illustrated with 72 most curious Wood Engravings. Originally Printed in
English by Richard Pynson.
NOW REPRINTED, WITH AN INTRODUCTION, NOTES, AND A
GLOSSARY.
By J. O. HALLIWELL, Esq.
'Wherever English, in its early, robust, manly form, is read. Sir John Maun-
devile is admired. His humble piety, his solemn reverence for the holy places
which he visited, his simple faith in all he heard, his acute obser\ation of
what he actually saw. his self-sacrifice, his devotion, his credulity, his firm faith,
his long endurance, appear in almost every page, and make his volume not
only the earliest, but one of the noblest of its class.'
LONDON :
F. S. Ellis, 2>2) King Street, Covent Garden.
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