1. It was of old that Sigurd, the young Volsung, Giuki sought, after
his conflict, received the pledge of friendship from the two brothers;
oaths exchanged the bold of deed.
2. A maid they offered him, and treasures many, Gudrun, Giuki's
youthful daughter. Drank and conversed, many days together, Sigurd the
young and Giuki's sons.
3. Until they went to woo Brynhild, and with them Sigurd, the
youthful Volsung, rode in company, who knew the way. He would have
possessed her, if her possess he might.
4. Sigurd the southern laid a naked sword, a glittering falchion,
between them; nor the damsel did he kiss, nor did the Hunnish king to
his arm lift her. He the blooming maid to Giuki's son delivered.
5. She to herself of body was of no sin conscious, nor at her
death-day, of any crime, that could be a stain, or thought to be:
intervened therein the grisly fates.
6. Alone she sat without, at eve of day, began aloud with herself to
speak: "Sigurd must be mine; I must die, or that blooming youth clasp
in my arms."
7. "Of the words I have uttered I now repent; he is Gudrun's
consort, and I am Gunnar's. The hateful Norns long suffering have
decreed us."
8. Oftentimes she wandered, filled with evil thoughts, o'er ice and
icebergs, every eve, when he and Gudrun had to their couch withdrawn,
and Sigurd her in the coverings wrapt, the Hunnish king his wife
caressed.
9. "Devoid I go of spouse and pleasure; I will beguile myself with
vengeful thoughts."
10. By those fits of fury she was impelled to murder. "Thou, Gunnar!
shalt wholly lose my land, and myself also. Never shall I be happy,
king! with thee.
11. I will return thither from whence I came, to my near kindred, my
relations; there will I remain, and slumber life away, unless thou
Sigurd cause to be slain, and a king become than the other greater.
12. Let the son go together with the father, the young wolf may not
longer be fostered. For whom will vengeance be the easier to appease,
if the son lives?"
13. Wroth was Gunnar, and with grief borne down; in his mind
revolved, sat the whole day; he knew not well, nor could devise, what
were most desirable for him to do, or were most fitting to be done,
when he should find himself of the Volsung bereft, and in Sigurd a
great loss sustain.
14. Much he thought, and also long, that it did not often happen,
that from their royal state women withdrew. Hogni he then to counsel
summoned, in whom he placed the fullest trust.
15. "Of all to me Brynhild, Budli's daughter, is the dearest; she is
the chief of women: rather will I my life lay down than that fair
one's treasures lose.
16. "Wilt thou the prince for his wealth circumvent? good 'tis to
command the ore of Rhine, and at ease over riches rule, and in
tranquillity happiness enjoy."
17. This alone Hogni for answer gave: "It beseems us not so to do,
by the sword to break sworn oaths, oaths sworn, and plighted faith.
18. "We know not on earth men more fortunate, while we four over the
people rule, and the Hun lives, that warlike chief; nor on earth, a
race more excellent, if we five sons long shall foster, and the good
progeny can increase.
19. I know full well whence the causes spring: Brynhild's
importunity is over-great.
20. We will Guthorm, our younger brother, and not over-wise, for the
deed prepare: he is free from sworn oaths, sworn oaths, and plighted
faith."
21. Easy it was to instigate the ferocious spirit: in the heart of
Sigurd stood his sword.
22. On vengeance bent, the warrior in his chamber hurled his brand
after the fierce assassin; to Guthorm flew dartlike Gram's gleaming
steel from the king's hand.
23. Fell the murderer in two parts, arms and head flew far away, but
his feet's part fell backwards on the place.
24. Sunk in sleep was Gudrun, in her bed, void of cares, by Sigurd's
side: but she awoke of joys bereft, when in the blood of Frey's friend
she swam.
25. So violently struck she her hands together, that the stout of
heart rose in his bed. "Weep not, Gudrun! so cruelly, my blooming
bride! thy brothers live.
26. An heir I have, alas! too young; he cannot flee from the hostile
house; among themselves they recently have dark and evil counsels
devised.
27. Never henceforth, although seven thou bear, will such a son to
the trysting with them ride. Full well I know how this has befallen:
Brynhild the sole cause is of all the evil.
28. Me the maiden loved more than any man; but towards Gunnar I
sinned not; affinity I held sacred, and sworn oaths; thence forward I
was called his consort's friend."
29. The woman gave forth sighs, and the king his life. So violently
she struck her hands together, that the beakers on the wall responsive
rang, and in the court the geese loudly screamed.
30. Laughed then Brynhild, Budli's daughter, once only, from her
whole soul, when in her bed she listened to the loud lament of Giuki's
daughter.
31. Then said Gunnar, the hawk-bearing prince: "Laugh not thereat,
thou barbarous woman! glad on thy couch, as if good awaited thee. Why
hast thou lost that beauteous colour? authoress of crime! Methinks to
death thou art doomed.
32. Well dost thou deserve, above all women, that before thy eyes,
we should lay Atli low, that thou shouldst see thy brother's
blood-streaming sore, his gory wounds shouldst have to bind."
33. Then said Brynhild, Budli's daughter: "No one provokes thee,
Gunnar! complete is thy work of death. Little does Atli thy hatred
fear; his life will outlast thine, and his might be ever greater.
34. Gunnar! will tell thee, though thou well knowest it, how early
we resolved on crimes. I was o'er-young and unrestrained, with wealth
endowed, in my brother's house.
35. Nor did I desire to marry any man, before ye Giukungs rode to
our dwelling, three on horseback, powerful kings: would that journey
had never been!
36. Then myself I promised to the great king, who with gold sat on
Grani's back. In eyes he did not you resemble, nor was at all in
aspect like: yet ye thought yourselves mighty kings.
37. And to me apart Atli said, that he would not have our heritage
divided, nor gold nor lands, unless I let myself be married, nor grant
me any part of the acquired gold, which he to me a girl had given to
possess, and to me a child in moneys counted.
38. Then distracted was my mind thereon, whether I should engage in
conflict, and death dispense, valiant in arms, for my brother's
quarrel. That would then be world-widely known, and to many a one
bring heartfelt anguish.
39. Our reconciliation we let follow: to me it had been more
pleasing the treasures to accept, the red-gold rings of Sigmund's
son: nor did I another's gold desire; him alone I loved, none other.
Menskogul[75] had not a changing mind.
40. All this will Atli hereafter find, when he shall hear of my
funeral rites completed; for never shall the heavy-hearted woman with
another's husband pass her life. Then will my wrongs be all avenged."
41. Up rose Gunnar, prince of warriors, and round his consort's neck
laid his hands; all drew nigh, yet each one singly, through honest
feeling, to dissuade her.
42. She from her neck those about her cast; she let no one stay her
from her long journey.
43. He then called Hogni to consultation. "I will that all our folk
to the hall be summoned, thine with, mine--now 'tis most needful--to
see if we can hinder my consort's fatal course, till from our speech a
hindrance may come: then let us leave necessity to rule."
44. To him Hogni answer gave: "Let no one hinder her from the long
journey, whence may she never born again return. Unblest she came on
her mother's lap, born in the world for ceaseless misery, for many a
man's heartfelt sorrow."
45. Downcast he from the meeting turned to where the lady treasures
distributed. She was viewing all she owned: hungry female thralls and
chamber-women. She put on her golden corslet--no good meditated--ere
herself she pierced, with the sword's point.
46. On the pillow she turned to the other side, and, wounded with
the glave, on her last counsels thought.
47. "Now let come those who desire gold, and aught less precious, to
receive from me. To every one I give a gilded necklace,[76]
needle-work and coverlets, splendid weeds."
48. All were silent, thought on what to do, and all together answer
gave: "Too many are there dead: we will yet live, still be hungry
hall-servants, to do what fitting is."
49. At length after reflection, the lady linen-clad, young in years,
words in answer uttered: "I desire that none, dead to entreaty, should
by force, for our sake, lose their life.
50. Yet o'er your bones will burn fewer ornaments, Menia's good
meal,[77] when ye go hence me to seek.
51. Gunnar! sit down, I will tell to thee, that of life now hopeless
is thy bright consort. Thy vessel will not be always afloat, though I
shall have my life resigned.
52. With Gudrun thou wilt be reconciled, sooner than thou thinkest:
that wise woman has by the king sad memorials, after her consort's
death.
53. There is born a maid, which her mother rears; brighter far than
the clear day, than the sun's beam, will Svanhild be.
54. Gudrun thou wilt give to an illustrious one, a warrior, the bane
of many men: not to her wish will she be married; Atli will come her
to espouse, Budli's son, my brother.
55. Much have I in memory how I was treated, when ye me so cruelly
had deceived: robbed I was of happiness, while my life lasted.
56. Thou wilt desire Oddrun to possess, but Atli will permit it not;
in secret ye will each other meet. She will love thee, as I had done,
if us a better fate had been allotted.
57. Thee will Atli barbarously treat; in the narrow serpent-den wilt
thou be cast.
58. It will too come to pass, not long after, that Atli will his
soul resign, his prosperity, and cease to live; for Gudrun in her
vengeance him in his bed will slay, through bitterness of spirit, with
the sword's sharp edge.
59. More seemly would appear our sister Gudrun, had she in death her
first consort followed, had but good counsel been to her given, or she
a soul possessed resembling mine--
60. Faintly I now speak--but for our sake she will not lose her
life. She will be borne on towering billows to King Jonakr's paternal
soil. Doubts will be in the resolves of Jonakr's sons.
61. She will Svanhild send from the land, her daughter, and
Sigurd's. Her will destroy Bikki's counsel; for Jormunrek for evil
lives. Then will have passed away all Sigurd's race, and Gudrun's
tears will be the more.
62. One prayer I have to thee yet to make, in this world 'twill be
my last request: Let in the plain be raised a pile so spacious, that
for us all like room may be, for those who shall have died with
Sigurd.
63. Bedeck the pile about with shields and hangings, a variegated
corpse-cloth, and multitude of slain. Let them burn the Hun[78] on the
one side of me;
64. Let them with the Hun burn on the other side, my household
slaves, with collars splendid, two at our heads, and two hawks; then
will all be equally distributed.
65. Let also lie between us both the sword with rings adorned, the
keen-edged iron, so again be placed, as when we both one couch
ascended, and were then called by the name of consorts.
66. Then will not clang against his heel the hall's bright gates,
with splendid ring, if my train him hence shall follow. Then will our
procession appear not mean.
67. For him will follow five female thralls, eight male slaves of
gentle birth, fostered with me, and with my patrimony, which to his,
daughter Budli gave.
68. Much I have said, and more would say, if the sword would grant
me power of speech. My voice fails, my wounds swell: truth only I have
uttered; so I will cease."