[Sigurd then rides away from Hindarfiall, and journeys on till he
comes to the habitation of Heimir, who was married to Beckhild,
Brynhild's sister. Alsvid, Heimir's son, who was at play when Sigurd
arrived at the mansion, received him kindly, and requested him to stay
with him. Sigurd consented, and remained there a short time. Brynhild
was at that time with Heimir, and was weaving within a gold border the
great exploits of Sigurd.
One day, when Sigurd was come from the forest, his hawk flew to the
window at which Brynhild sat employed on weaving. Sigurd ran after it,
saw the lady, and appeared struck with her handiwork and beauty. On
the following day Sigurd went to her apartment, and Alsvid stood
outside the door shafting arrows. Sigurd said: "Hail to thee, lady!"
or "How fares it with thee?" She answered: "We are well, my kindred
and friends are living, but it is uncertain what any one's lot may be
till their last day." He sat down by her. Brynhild said: "This seat
will be allowed to few, unless my father comes." Sigurd answered: "Now
is that come to pass which thou didst promise me." She said: "Here
shalt thou be welcome." She then arose, and her four maidens with her,
and, approaching him with a golden cup, bade him drink. He reached
towards her and took hold of her hand together with the cup, and
placed her by him, clasped her round the neck, kissed her, and said:
"A fairer than thou was never born." She said: "It is not wise to
place faith in women, for they so often break their promise." He said:
"Better days will come upon us, so that we may enjoy happiness,"
Brynhild said: "It is not ordained that we shall live together, for I
am a shield-maiden (skjaldmær)." Sigurd said: "Then will our happiness
be best promoted, if we live together; for harder to endure is the
pain which herein lies than from a keen weapon." Brynhild said: "I
shall be called to the aid of warriors, but thou wilt espouse Gudrun,
Giuki's daughter." Sigurd said: "No king's daughter shall ensnare me,
therefore have not two thoughts on that subject; and I swear by the
gods that I will possess thee and no other woman." She answered to the
same effect. Sigurd thanked her for what she had said to him, and gave
her a gold ring. He remained there a short time in great favour.
Sigurd now rode from Heimir's dwelling with much gold, until he came
to the palace of King Giuki, whose wife was named Grimhild. They had
three sons, Gunnar, Hogni, and Guthorm. Gudrun was the name of their
daughter. King Giuki entreated Sigurd to stay there, and there he
remained a while. All appeared low by the side of Sigurd. One evening
the sorceress Grimhild rose and presented a horn to Sigurd, saying:
"Joyful for us is thy presence, and we desire that all good may befall
thee. Take this horn and drink." He took it and drank, and with that
drink forgot both his love and his vows to Brynhild. After that,
Grimhild so fascinated him that he was induced to espouse Gudrun, and
all pledged their faith to Sigurd, and confirmed it by oaths. Sigurd
gave Gudrun to eat of Fafnir's heart, and she became afterwards far
more austere than before. Their son was named Sigmund.
Grimhild now counselled her son Gunnar to woo Brynhild, and consulted
with Sigurd, in consequence of this design. Brynhild had vowed to wed
that man only who should ride over the blazing fire that was laid
around her hall. They found the hall and the fire burning around it.
Gunnar rode Goti, and Hogni Holknir. Gunnar turns his horse towards
the fire, but it shrinks back. Sigurd said: "Why dost thou shrink
back, Gunnar?" Gunnar answers: "My horse will not leap this fire,"
and prays Sigurd to lend him Grani. "He is at thy service," said
Sigurd. Gunnar now rides again towards the fire, but Grani will not go
over. They then changed forms. Sigurd rides, having in his hand the
sword Gram, and golden spurs on his heels. Grani runs forward to the
fire when he feels the spur. There was now a great noise, as it is
said:
1. The fire began to rage, and the earth to tremble, high rose the
flame to heaven itself: there ventured few chiefs of people through
that fire to ride, or to leap over.
2. Sigurd Grani with his word urged, the fire was quenched before
the prince, the flame allayed before the glory-seeker with the bright
saddle that Rok had owned.
Brynhild was sitting in a chair as Sigurd entered. She asks who he is,
and he calls himself Gunnar Giuki's son. "And thou art destined to be
my wife with thy father's consent. I have ridden through the
flickering flame (vafrlogi) at thy requisition." She said: "I know not
well how I shall answer this." Sigurd stood erect on the floor resting
on the hilt of his sword. She rose embarrassed from her seat, like a
swan on the waves, having a sword in her hand, a helmet on her head,
and wearing a corslet. "Gunnar," said she, "speak not so to me, unless
thou art the foremost of men; and then thou must slay him who has
sought me, if thou hast so much trust in thyself." Sigurd said:
"Remember now thy promise, that thou wouldst go with that man who
should ride through the flickering flame." She acknowledged the truth
of his words, stood up, and gave him a glad welcome. He tarried there
three nights, and they prepared one bed. He took the sword Gram and
laid it between them. She inquired why he did so. He said that it was
enjoined him so to act towards his bride on their marriage, or he
would receive his death. He then took from her the ring called
Andvaranaut, and gave her another that had belonged to Fafnir. After
this he rode away through the same fire to his companions, when Gunnar
and he again changed forms, and they then rode home.
Brynhild related this in confidence to her foster-father Heimir, and
said: "A king named Gunnar has ridden through the flickering flame,
and is come to speak with me; but I told him that Sigurd alone might
so do, to whom I gave my vow at Hindarfiall, and that he only was the
man." Heimir said that what had happened must remain as it was.
Brynhild said: "Our daughter Aslaug thou shalt rear up here with
thee." Brynhild then went to her father, King Budli, and he with his
daughter Brynhild went to King Giuki's palace. A great feasting was
afterwards held, when Sigurd remembered all his oaths to Brynhild, and
yet kept silence. Brynhild and Gunnar sat at the drinking and drank
wine.
One day Brynhild and Gudrun went to the river Rhine, and Brynhild went
farther out into the water. Gudrun asked why she did so? Brynhild
answered: "Why shall I go on along with thee in this more than in
anything else?" "I presume that my father was more potent than thine,
and my husband has performed more valorous deeds, and ridden through
the blazing fire. Thy husband was King Hialprek's thrall." Gudrun
answered angrily: "Thou shouldst be wiser than to venture to vilify my
husband, as it is the talk of all that no one like to him in every
respect has ever come into the world; nor does it become thee to
vilify him, as he was thy former husband, and slew Fafnir, and rode
through the fire, whom thou thoughtest was King Gunnar; and he lay
with thee, and took from thee the ring Andvaranaut, and here mayest
thou recognize it." Brynhild then looking at the ring, recognized it,
and turned pale as though she were dead. Brynhild was very taciturn
that evening, and Gudrun asked Sigurd why Brynhild was so taciturn. He
dissuaded her much from making this inquiry, and said that at all
events it would soon be known.
On the morrow, when sitting in their apartment, Gudrun said: "Be
cheerful, Brynhild! What is it that prevents thy mirth?" Brynhild
answered: "Malice drives thee to this; for thou hast a cruel heart."
"Judge not so," said Gudrun. Brynhild continued: "Ask about that only
which is better for thee to know; that is more befitting women of high
degree. It is good, too, for thee to be content, as all goes according
to thy wishes." Gudrun said: "It is premature to glory in that: this
forebodes something; but what instigates thee against us?" Brynhild
answered: "Thou shalt be requited for having espoused Sigurd; for I
grudge thee the possession of him." Gudrun said: "We knew not of your
secret." Brynhild answered: "We have had no secret, though we have
sworn oaths of fidelity; and thou knowest that I have been deceived,
and I will avenge it." Gudrun said: "Thou art better married than thou
deservest to be, and thy violence must be cooled." "Content should I
be," said Brynhild, "didst thou not possess a more renowned husband
than I." Gudrun answered: "Thou hast as renowned a husband; for it is
doubtful which is the greater king." Brynhild said: "Sigurd overcame
Fafnir, and that is worth more than all Gunnar's kingdom, as it is
said:
"Sigurd the serpent slew, and that henceforth shall be by none
forgotten, while mankind lives: but thy brother neither dared through
the fire to ride, nor over it to leap."
Gudrun said: "Grani would not run through the fire under King Gunnar:
but he [Gunnar] dared to ride." Brynhild said: "Let us not contend: I
bear no good will to Grimhild." Gudrun said: "Blame her not; for she
is towards thee as to her own daughter." Brynhild said: "She is the
cause of all the evil which gnaws me. She presented to Sigurd the
pernicious drink, so that he no more remembered me." Gudrun said:
"Many an unjust word thou utterest, and this is a great falsehood."
Brynhild said: "So enjoy Sigurd as thou hast not deceived me, and may
it go with thee as I imagine." Gudrun said: "Better shall I enjoy him
than thou wilt wish; and no one has said he has had too much good with
me at any time." Brynhild said: "Thou sayest ill and wilt repent of
it. Let us cease from angry words, and not indulge in useless prattle.
Long have I borne in silence the grief that dwells in my breast: I
have also felt regard for thy brother. But let us talk of other
things." Gudrun said: "Your imagination looks far forward."
Brynhild then lay in bed, and King Gunnar came to talk with her, and
begged her to rise and give vent to her sorrow; but she would not
listen to him. They then brought Sigurd to visit her and learn whether
her grief might not be alleviated. They called to memory their oaths,
and how they had been deceived, and at length Sigurd offered to marry
her and put away Gudrun; but she would not hear of it. Sigurd left the
apartment, but was so greatly affected by her sorrow that the rings of
his corslet burst asunder from his sides, as is said in the
Sigurdarkvida:
"Out went Sigurd from that interview into the hall of kings, writhing
with anguish; so that began to start the ardent warrior's iron-woven
sark off from his sides."
Brynhild afterwards instigated Gunnar to murder Sigurd, saying that he
had deceived them both and broken his oath. Gunnar consulted with
Hogni, and revealed to him this conversation. Hogni earnestly strove
to dissuade him from such a deed, on account of their oaths. Gunnar
removed the difficulty, saying: "Let us instigate our brother Guthorm;
he is young and of little judgment, and is, moreover, free of all
oaths; and so avenge the mortal injury of his having seduced
Brynhild." They then took a serpent and the flesh of a wolf, and had
them cooked, and gave them to him to eat, and offered him gold and a
large realm, to do the deed, as is said:
"The forest-fish they roasted, and the wolf's carcase took, while
some to Guthorm dealt out gold; gave him Geri's[74] flesh with his
drink, and many other things steeped therein."
With this food he became so furious, that he would instantly
perpetrate the deed. On this it is related as in the Sigurdarkvida,
when Gunnar and Brynhild conversed together.]