Gripir was the name of the son of Eylimi, the brother of Hiordis. He
ruled over lands, and was of all men wisest and prescient of the
future. Sigurd rode alone, and came to Gripir's dwelling. Sigurd was
of a distinguished figure. He found a man to address outside the hall,
whose name was Geitir. Sigurd applied to him, and asked:
1. Who here inhabits, in these towers? what nation's king do people
name him?
_Geitir_.
Gripir is named the chief of men, he who rules a firm realm and
people.
_Sigurd_.
2. Is the wise king of the land at home? Will the chief with me come
and converse? With him needs speech an unknown man: I desire speedily
Gripir to see.
_Geitir_.
3. The glad king will of Geitir ask, who the man is that demands
speech of Gripir.
_Sigurd_.
Sigurd I am named, born of Sigmund, and Hiordis is the chieftain's
mother.
4. Then went Geitir, Gripir to inform: "Here is a man without, a
stranger, come; of aspect he is most distinguished. He desires, king!
with thee to speak."
5. Goes from the hall the lord of men, and the stranger prince
kindly greets: "Welcome, Sigurd! better had it been earlier: but do
thou, Geitir! take charge of Grani."
6. They began to talk, and much to tell, when the sagacious men
together met. "Tell me, if thou knowest, my mother's brother! how will
Sigurd's life fall out?"
_Gripir_.
7. Thou wilt foremost be of men beneath the sun, exalted high above
every king; liberal of gold, but of flight sparing, of aspect comely,
and wise of words.
_Sigurd_.
8. Say thou, sage king! more than I ask, thou wise one, to Sigurd,
if thou thinkst to see it: what will first happen for my advancement,
when from thy dwelling I shall have departed?
_Gripir_.
9. First wilt thou, prince! avenge thy father, and for the wrongs of
Eylimi wilt retaliate; thou wilt the cruel sons of Hunding boldly lay
low; thou wilt have victory.
_Sigurd_.
10. Say, noble king! kinsman mine! with all forethought, as we hold
friendly converse; seest thou of Sigurd those bold achievements, that
will highest soar under heaven's regions?"
_Gripir_.
11. Thou alone wilt slay that glistening serpent, which greedy lies
on Gnitaheid; thou shalt of both the slayer be, Regin and Fafnir.
Gripir tells truly.
_Sigurd_.
12. Riches will abound, if I so bring conflict among men, as thou
for certain sayest. Apply thy mind, and at length say what will yet my
life befall.
_Gripir_.
13. Thou wilt find Fafnir's lair, and thence wilt take splendid
riches, with gold wilt load Grani's back. Thou wilt to Giuki ride, the
war-famed prince.
_Sigurd_.
14. Yet must thou, prince! in friendly speech, foresighted king!
more relate. I shall be Giuki's guest, and I shall thence depart: what
will next my life befall?
_Gripir_.
15. A king's daughter will on a mountain sleep, fair, in corslet
cased, after Helgi's death. Thou wilt strike with a keen sword, wilt
the corslet sever with Fafnir's bane.
_Sigurd_.
16. The corslet is ript open, the maid begins to speak. When
awakened from her sleep, on what will she chiefly with Sigurd converse
hold, which to the prince's benefit may tend?
_Gripir_.
17. She to thee, powerful one! runes will teach, all those which
men ought to know; and in every man's tongue to speak, and medicines
for healing. May good await thee, king!
_Sigurd_.
18. Now that is past, the knowledge is acquired, and I am ready
thence away to ride. Apply thy mind, and at length say what more will
my life befall.
_Gripir_.
19. Thou wilt find Heimir's dwellings, and the glad guest wilt be of
that great king. Vanished is, Sigurd! that which I foresaw; no further
mayest thou Gripir question.
_Sigurd_.
20. Now bring me grief the words thou speakest; for thou foreseest,
king! much further; thou knowest of too great calamity to Sigurd;
therefore thou, Gripir! wilt not utter it.
_Gripir_.
21. Of thy life the early portion lay before me clearest to
contemplate. I am not truly accounted sage, nor of the future
prescient: that which I knew is gone.
_Sigurd_.
22. No man I know on the earth's surface, who greater prescience has
than thou, Gripir! Thou mayest not conceal it, unhappy though it be,
or if ill betide my life.
_Gripir_.
23. Not with vices will thy life be sullied; let that, noble
prince! in thy mind be borne; for while mankind exists, thy name,
director of the spear-storm! will be supreme.
_Sigurd_.
24. The worst seems to me, that Sigurd is compelled from the king to
part in such uncertainty. Show me the way--all is decreed
before--great chieftain! if thou wilt, my mother's brother!
_Gripir_.
25. To Sigurd I will now openly tell, since the chieftain me thereto
compels: thou wilt surely find that I lie not. A certain day is for
thy death decreed.
_Sigurd_.
26. I would not importune the mighty prince, but rather Gripir's
good counsel have. Now I fain would know, though grateful it may not
be, what prospect Sigurd has lying before him.
_Gripir_.
27. There is with Heimir a maiden fair of form, she is by men
Brynhild named, daughter of Budli; but the dear king Heimir nurtures
the hard-souled damsel.
_Sigurd_.
28. What is it to me, although the maiden be of aspect fair?
nurtured with Heimir? That thou, Gripir! must fully declare; for thou
foreseest my whole destiny.
_Gripir_.
29. She will thee bereave of almost every joy, the fair-faced
foster-child of Heimir. Thou wilt not sleep, nor of affairs
discourse, nor men regard; only this maiden thou wilt see.
_Sigurd_.
30. What remedy for Sigurd will be applied; tell me that, Gripir! if
it seem good to thee. Shall I obtain the damsel? with dowry purchase
the lovely royal daughter?
_Gripir_.
31. Ye will each swear unnumbered oaths, solemnly binding, but few
will keep. Hast thou been Giuki's guest one night, thou wilt have
forgotten the fair ward of Heimir.
_Sigurd_.
32. How is that, Gripir! explain it to me: seest thou such
fickleness in the king's mind, that with that maiden I shall my
engagement break, whom with my whole heart I thought to love?
_Gripir_.
33. Prince! thou wilt be snared in another's wiles, thou wilt pay
the penalty of Grimhild's craft; the bright-haired maiden, her
daughter, she to thee will offer. This snare for the king she lays.
_Sigurd_.
34. Shall I then with Gunnar form relationship, and with Gudrun join
in wedlock? Well wived then the king would be, if the pangs of perjury
caused me no pain.
_Gripir_.
35. Thee will Grimhild wholly beguile; she will implore thee
Brynhild to demand for the hand of Gunnar, king of Goths: the journey
thou wilt forthwith promise to the king's mother.
_Sigurd_.
36. Evils are at hand, I can that perceive; Sigurd's wits will have
wholly perished, if I shall demand for another's hand, a noble maiden
whom I well love.
_Gripir_.
37. All of you will swear mutual oaths, Gunnar, and Hogni, and thou
the third; and ye will forms exchange, when on the way ye are, Gunnar
and thou: Gripir lies not.
_Sigurd_.
38. To what end is that? why shall we exchange forms and manners,
when on the way we are? Another fraud will surely follow this,
altogether horrible. But say on, Gripir!
_Gripir_.
39. Thou wilt have Gunnar's semblance, and his manners, thy own
eloquence, and great sagacity: there thou wilt betroth the high-minded
ward of Heimir: no one can that prevent.
_Sigurd_.
40. To me that seems worst, that among men I shall be a false
traitor called, if such take place. I would not deception practise on
a royal maid the most excellent I know.
_Gripir_.
41. Thou wilt repose, leader of hosts! pure with the maiden, as she
thy mother were; therefore exalted, lord of men! while the world
endures thy name will be.
42. The nuptials will of both be solemnized, of Sigurd and of
Gunnar, in Giuki's halls; then will ye forms exchange, when ye home
return; yet to himself will have each his own senses.
_Sigurd._
43. Will then Gunnar, chief among men, the noble woman wed? Tell me
that, Gripir! although three nights by me the chieftain's bride glad
of heart has slept? The like has no example.
44. How for happiness shall hereafter be this affinity? Tell me
that, Gripir! Will the alliance for Gunnar's solace henceforth prove,
or even for mine?
_Gripir._
45. Thou wilt the oaths remember, and must silence keep, and let
Gudrun enjoy a happy union. Brynhild nathless will herself think an
ill-married woman. She will wiles devise to avenge herself.
_Sigurd._
46. What atonement will that woman take, for the frauds we shall
have practised on her? From me the maiden has oaths sworn, but never
kept, and but little joy.
_Gripir._
47. She to Gunnar will plainly declare, that thou didst not well the
oaths observe, when the noble king, Giuki's heir, with his whole soul,
in thee confided.
_Sigurd._
48. What will then follow? let me know that. Will that tale appear
as true, or that the noble woman falsely accuses me, and herself also.
Tell me that, Gripir!
_Gripir_.
49. From spite towards thee, and from o'erwhelming grief, the
powerful dame will not most wisely act. To the noble woman do thou no
further harm, though thou the royal bride with guiles hast
circumvented.
_Sigurd_.
50. Will the prudent Gunnar, Guthorm, and Hogni, at her instigation,
then proceed? Will Giuki's sons on their relative redden their swords?
Tell me further, Gripir!
_Gripir_.
51. Then will Gudrun be furious at heart, when her brothers shall on
thy death resolve. In nothing then will that wise woman take delight.
Such is Grimhild's work.
52. In this thou shalt find comfort, leader of hosts! This fortune
is allotted to the hero's life: a more renowned man on earth shall
never be, under the sun's abode, than thou wilt be accounted.
_Sigurd_.
53. Now part we, now farewell! Fate may not be withstood. Now hast
thou, Gripir! done as I prayed thee: thou wouldst have fain a happier
end foretold me of my life's days, hadst thou been able.