32 



THE BIRTH AND SRINGING-UP OF CHILDREN 



nafnfesti (name-fastening), and consisted either of rings, 

 weapons, farms, or lands. Helgi, the son of Borghild, at 

 whose birth the Nornir were present, was given presents at his 

 na me-fastening. 



The birth of Sigurd, son of Ragnar Lodbrok, is thus 

 described. 



" The time arrived when she (Kraka or Aslaug) was confined 

 and bore a son, whom the servant-maids took and showed to 

 her. She bade them carry him to Ragnar (Lodbrok), and let 

 him see him ; the boy was taken into the hall and placed in 

 the fold of Ragnar's cloak. When he saw the boy Ragnar 

 was asked, what he should be named ; he sang : 



Sigurd shall the boy be named, He will of Odin's family 



He will fight battles, The foremost man be called ; 



And be much like his mother, That serpent is in his eye 1 



And be called his father's son ; Which another slew. 



" He drew a gold ring from his hand, and gave it to the 

 boy as name-fastening " (Ragiiar Lodbrok's Saga, c. 8). 



The following stanzas give 



It was in early ages 



When eagles screamed, 



Holy waters glided 



From the heaven-mountains ; 



Then Borghild bore 



The high-minded Helgi 



In Bralund. 



It became night in the house ; 



The nornir came 



Who for the hero 



Shaped his life ; 



They bade him become 



The most renowned of FylTcirs 



And of Budlunys - 



Seem the best. 



Powerfully they spun 

 The threads of fate, 



the account of Helgi's birth : 



When burghs were broken 



In Bralund ; 



They unravelled 



The golden threads, 



And fastened them 



Under the middle of the moon's hall. 2 



In the east and the west 



They hid the ends ; 



There owned the Lofdung 3 



Land between ; 



The kinswoman of Neri 4 



Flung one string 5 



On northern roads, 



Bid it hold for ever. 



One thing grieved 

 The son of the Ylfings, 6 

 And also the maiden 

 Who bore the beloved one ; 



1 This refers to Sigurd's name ' Snake 

 Eye.' 



2 Heaven. 



3 King. 



4 This is the only place where Neri is 

 mentioned. 



5 It is probable that this third string 

 northwards was a string of bad luck or 



evil fate ; but Bugge says it meant 

 Helgi's fame in the North, which was 

 to be everlasting. 



c Sigmund, Helgi's father, is here 

 called son of the Ylfings, though he was 

 of the Volsunga family. Even Helgi 

 himself is called Skjb'ldung in the second 

 Helgi lay. 



