_Gunnar_.
1. "Why art thou, Brynhild! Budli's daughter! absorbed in evil and
murderous thoughts? What injury has Sigurd done thee, that thou the
hero wilt of life bereave?"
_Brynhild_.
2. "Sigurd to me oaths has sworn, oaths sworn, all falsehoods. He at
a time deceived me when he should have been of all oaths most
observant."
_Hogni_.
3. "Thee Brynhild has in anger instigated evil to perpetrate, harm
to execute. She grudges Gudrun her happy marriage, and thee,
possession of herself." * * *
4. Some a wolf roasted, some a snake cut up, some to Guthorm served
the wolf, before they might, eager for crime, on the mighty man lay
their hands.
5. Without stood Gudrun, Giuki's daughter, and these words first of
all uttered: "Where is now Sigurd, lord of warriors, seeing that my
kinsmen foremost ride?"
6. Hogni alone to her answer gave: "Asunder have we Sigurd hewed
with our swords; his grey steed bends o'er the dead chief."
7. Then said Brynhild, Budli's daughter: "Well shall ye now enjoy
arms and lands. Sigurd would alone over all have ruled, had he a
little longer life retained.
8. Unseemly it had been that he should so have ruled over Giuki's
heritage and the Goths' people, when he five sons, for the fall of
hosts, eager for warfare, had begotten."
9. Then laughed Brynhild--the whole burgh resounded--once only from
her whole heart: "Well shall ye enjoy lands and subjects, now the
daring king ye have caused to fall."
10. Then said Gudrun, Giuki's daughter: "Much thou speakest, things
most atrocious: may fiends have Gunnar, Sigurd's murderer! Souls
malevolent vengeance awaits."
11. Sigurd had fallen south of Rhine: loud from a tree a raven
screamed: "With your blood will Atli his sword's edges redden; the
oaths ye have sworn your slaughter shall dissolve."
12. Evening was advanced, much was drunken, then did pleasant talk
of all kinds pass: all sank in sleep, when to rest they went. Gunnar
alone was wakeful longer than all:
13. He began his foot to move, and much with himself to speak; the
warlike chief in his mind pondered, what during the conflict the raven
and the eagle were ever saying, as they rode home.
14. Brynhild awoke, Budli's daughter, daughter of Skioldungs, a
little ere day: "Urge me or stay me--the mischief is perpetrated--my
sorrow to pour forth, or to suppress it."
15. All were silent at these words; few understood the lady's
conduct, that weeping she should begin to speak of what she laughing
had desired.
16. "In my dream, Gunnar! all seemed so horrid, in the chamber all
was dead; my bed was cold; and thou, king! wast riding of joy bereft,
with fetters loaded, to a hostile host. So will ye all, race of
Niflungs! be of power deprived, perjurers as ye are!
17. Ill Gunnar! didst thou remember, when blood ye in your footsteps
both let flow; now hast thou him ill for all that requited, because he
would prove himself foremost.
18. Then was it proved, when the hero had ridden to see me, to woo
me, how the warlike chief whilom held sacred his oath towards the
youthful prince.
19. Laid his sword, with gold adorned, the illustrious king between
us both: outward its edges were with fire wrought, but with venom
drops tempered within."
From this lay, in which the death of Sigurd is related, it appears
that he was slain without doors, while some relate that he was slain
sleeping in his bed: but the Germans say he was slain out in the
forest; and it is told in the "Gudrunarkvida hin Forna," that Sigurd
and the sons of Giuki had ridden to the public assembly (thing) when
he was slain. But it is said by all, without exception, that they
broke faith with him, and attacked him while lying down and
unprepared.